BNP names candidates for 237 seats, 63 open for allies

Bangla Press Desk: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday announced its list of potential candidates for 237 parliamentary constituencies ahead of the upcoming national election, leaving 63 constituencies vacant for nominees from like-minded political allies.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is set to contest from Bogura-7, Dinajpur-3, and Feni-1 constituencies, while acting chairman Tarique Rahman will run from Bogura-6 and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will contest from Thakurgaon-1.

Fakhrul announced the preliminary list at a press conference held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office in the capital.

The announcement followed a three-and-a-half-hour meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee, chaired virtually by Tarique Rahman from London. The divisional organising secretaries were also present at the conference.

“This is a list of possible candidates for 237 seats. There may be changes after discussions with our allies or based on the Standing Committee’s decision,” Fakhrul said. “It should be considered a list of appropriate candidates, not final ones.”

He added that the party deliberately withheld nominations in constituencies where coalition partners expressed interest in contesting. “We hope our partners will finalise their own candidates soon, and we can reach an agreement through dialogue,” Fakhrul mentioned.

Senior leaders among nominees

Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will contest from Cumilla-1, Mirza Abbas from Dhaka-8, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy from Dhaka-3, Abdul Moyeen Khan from Narsingdi-2, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury from Chattogram-10, Salah Uddin Ahmed from Cox’s Bazar-1, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku from Sirajganj-2, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed from Bhola-3, and AZM Zahid Hossain from Dinajpur-6.

Among the vice-chairmen, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury will run in Patuakhali-1, Barkat Ullah Bulu in Noakhali-3, Mohammad Shahjahan in Noakhali-4, Abdul Awal Mintoo in Feni-3, Nitai Roy Chowdhury in Magura-2, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad in Cumilla-3, and Ahmed Azam Khan in Tangail-8.

Advisory council members of the BNP Chairperson have also secured nominations, including Monirul Haque Chowdhury in Cumilla-6, Aman Ullah Aman in Dhaka-2, Mahbub Uddin Khokon in Noakhali-1, Zainul Abdin Farrooq in Noakhali-4, Jahiruddin Swapan in Barishal-1, Majibar Rahman Sarwar in Barishal-5, Lutfuzzaman Babar in Netrokona-4, Tasvir Ul Islam in Kurigram-3, Habibur Rahman Habib in Pabna-4, Mushfiqur Rahman in Brahmanbaria-4, Afroza Khan Rita in Manikganj-3, Moinul Islam Khan in Manikganj-2, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir in Sylhet-1, Tahmina Rushdir Luna in Sylhet-2, Abul Khair Bhuiyan in Lakshmipur-2, Enamul Haque Chowdhury in Sylhet-6, Abdus Salam Pintu in Tangail-2, Joynal Abedin in Feni-2, Fazlur Rahman in Kishoreganj-4, and Naser Rahman in Moulvibazar-3.

Joint secretaries general Khairul Kabir Khokon, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, and Syed Emran Saleh Prince will contest from Narsingdi-1, Lakshmipur-2, and Mymensingh-1 respectively.

Notable figures among the nominees also include BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan in Chuadanga-2, former FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo in Feni-3, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain in Dhaka-6, and Sanjida Islam Tuli in Dhaka-14.

10 female in 12 constituencies

BNP has nominated 12 women candidates, including its chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Besides her, the other nominees are Farzana Sharmin in Natore-1, Sabira Sultana in Jashore-2, Sansila Zebrin Priyanka in Sherpur-1, Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto in Jhalakathi-2, Afroza Khanam Rita in Manikganj-3, Sanjida Islam Tuli in Dhaka-14, Shyama Obayed Islam in Faridpur-2, Nayab Yusuf Kamal in Faridpur-3, and Tahsina Rushdir Luna in Sylhet-2.

The inclusion of these candidates reflects BNP’s effort to increase women’s representation in the upcoming polls.

‘Retains familiar faces, drops multiple seniors’

Despite speculation that the BNP might introduce a wave of new faces for the 13th parliamentary election, the party has largely kept faith in its established leaders who are well known to the public, said multiple activists following the announcement of the list.

While a few new and younger candidates have appeared on the preliminary list, several senior leaders, including some members of the party’s standing committee, have been dropped from the lineup.

According to some of the party insiders, BNP did not nominate any potential mayoral candidate for the national election. As per the party decision, the potential mayoral candidates were asked to focus on the city corporation elections.

The names of potential candidates for several major cities, including Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal, have already emerged in internal party discussions, they said.

Tabith Awal is the potential mayoral candidate of the party for Dhaka North City Corporation while Afroza Abbas for Dhaka South City Corporation.

Tarique warns of “conspiracy”

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday said that a conspiracy was being plotted to rob the party of “victory in the national election”.

He urged party members not to engage in activities that “disrespect the Proclaimer of Independence, martyred Ziaur Rahman, or question the contributions of the Mother of Democracy, Khaleda Zia.”

Tarique said the BNP was finalising its candidate list for all 300 constituencies, noting that, as a large and popular party, “multiple qualified candidates” were competing in most seats.

He called on party leaders and activists to unite behind the nominated candidates and avoid internal conflicts ahead of the polls.

BP/SP