BNP assures due respect to dropped nomination aspirants

Bangla Press Desk:   The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has assured eligible aspirants who were excluded from its preliminary list of parliamentary candidates that they will be given due honour and responsibilities within the party in the coming days.

At the same time, the party has warned of stern organisational action against anyone who defies its decision or engages in activities that violate party discipline, BNP sources said.

“Those who did not get nomination, please have faith – the party will surely assign you due responsibility and respect in due course,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, speaking at a programme the same day, acknowledged that many were disappointed but urged all to work together for the victory of the party’s nominated candidates.

According to party insiders, the BNP high command has taken a tough stance against any disunity or internal violence centring the nomination process. “BNP always takes organisational action against anyone who violates party discipline,” said Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the party’s senior joint secretary general and spokesperson, adding that four local leaders in Chattogram have already been expelled for defying party decisions.

The BNP on Monday announced its preliminary list of candidates for 237 parliamentary constituencies, leaving 63 seats vacant for nominees from like-minded allies ahead of the upcoming national election.

Dropped aspirants crowd Gulshan office

A large number of dropped aspirants gathered at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on Tuesday, seeking to express their reactions and request a review of the nomination list.

Among them were Khondaker Akbar Hossain Bablu, son of former BNP Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain and Helen Jerin Khan.

“I will accept the party’s decision. The nomination for our Patuakhali-2 seat has been withheld, and I hope the party will consider me. Whoever gets the nomination, I will work for that candidate,” BNP Assistant Office Secretary Muhammad Munir Hossain.

BNP insiders said that some leaders who dropped off the national election list may be nominated for local government polls or given organisational positions at the next party council.

A senior leader said the party has asked potential mayoral candidates for the upcoming city corporation elections to focus on those races instead of parliamentary contests. Names circulating internally include Tabith Awal for Dhaka North and Afroza Abbas for Dhaka South – both of whom were not nominated for national polls. The preliminary list mixes old and new faces, including several former and current leaders of the Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal, aiming to balance experience with youth appeal.

However, some heavyweight figures, such as Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Moazzem Hossain Alal, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Rumin Farhana, are absent. Party sources hinted that some of them might be nominated later after finalising seat-sharing with allies.

Clashes erupt over nomination disputes

Reports from several districts said clashes erupted between supporters of dropped and nominated aspirants following the announcement of the candidate list. In Magura-2, a clash between supporters of BNP candidate Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Jubo Dal leader Rabiul Islam Nayan left around 15 people injured on Tuesday morning. Similar incidents were reported in Mobarakpur, Magura, and Chakulia village, Narail.

In Meherpur-2, violence broke out between supporters of former lawmaker Amjad Hossain and district BNP president Javed Masud Milton.

In Cumilla-6, supporters of Aminur Rashid Yasin blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Monday night, protesting the nomination of Monirul Haque Chowdhury.

Four BNP leaders expelled over violence

Late Monday night, the BNP expelled four local leaders for engaging in violence, road blockades and activities deemed against public interest over nomination disputes.

According to a press release signed by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the expelled leaders are Alauddin Moni, president of Swechchhasebak Dal’s Sitakunda upazila unit; Helal Uddin Babor, its general secretary; Mamun, convener of Sitakunda municipality unit; and Momin Uddin Mintu, general secretary of Jubo Dal’s Sonaichhari unit.

The statement said they were involved in clashes and blockades at Kadam Rasul, Bhatiari Bazar, and Jalil Gate areas of Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Monday evening. They have been expelled from all posts and stripped of party membership. A separate press release later announced that the party’s earlier nomination for Madaripur-1 (Shibchar) constituency had been withheld due to unavoidable reasons.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has instructed all party leaders and activists to unite and work for the victory of candidates under the party’s election symbol, sheafs of paddy.

BP/SP