Dhaka, November 14 – Under increasing internal pressure following extensive protests, dissatisfaction, and conflicts in various districts co...
Dhaka, November 14 – Under increasing internal pressure following extensive protests, dissatisfaction, and conflicts in various districts concerning its list of 237 electoral candidates, the BNP leadership is now contemplating changes to disputed selections to calm local discontent.
Speaking with UNB, several senior BNP officials mentioned that the party has started compiling a list using input from local members, the actions of the candidates, their public recognition, and any issues related to them.
The list, they mentioned, will be utilized to reevaluate and potentially amend the nominations at the final stage—following the declaration of the election schedule.
According to party insiders, a BNP group headed by Dr. Ziauddin Haider, a member of the BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council, is working on compiling a list of potential candidates that could be examined.
Furthermore, the BNP leaders stated, they will soon reveal additional candidates for the remaining positions as talks with their coalition partners have commenced.
Two members of the BNP Standing Committee mentioned that certain committed leaders, such as Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, and Habibun Nabi Khan Shole, who were initially excluded from nominations, could be put forward for appropriate positions in the second phase.
"We recognize that some of our nominations may appear to be wrong. Therefore, we are communicating with district leaders and considering their input regarding the nominated candidates. We are also getting applications from certain regions asking for changes to the candidates for different reasons," said a member of the BNP Standing Committee, who requested to remain anonymous.
He mentioned that they are currently evaluating the possibility of bringing back candidates who lack significant local support and have demonstrated weak performance up to this point.
As part of its internal evaluation, the BNP leader mentioned that the party is carefully observing the fieldwork of its potential single candidates. "Our team is specifically examining how these selected individuals are engaging with committed local activists, particularly those who were not given nominations."
He mentioned that the party's leadership is focusing on the candidates' work in fostering unity within local communities. "Anyone who keeps causing splits or refuses to support the official candidate even after genuine attempts at reconciliation will face severe disciplinary measures from the party," he said.
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A member of the BNP Standing Committee stated that the nomination of Kamal Jaman Mollah for the Madaripur-1 constituency has been put on hold because of accusations.
"We are facing these accusations regarding certain other candidates. We are compiling a list of contentious and underperforming nominees to evaluate during the final selection process. When we revealed the candidates, we explicitly mentioned that this was a preliminary nomination, and adjustments can be made by our selection committee," he said.
The leader of the BNP also mentioned that some senior leaders, including Mushfiqur Rahman (Brahmanbaria-4), Sardar Sarfuddin Ahmed Santu (Barishal-2), SM Faisal (Habiganj-4), and Jainal Abedin (Feni-2), who are dealing with significant health problems, were granted primary nominations but seem physically unable to perform their duties. "We are closely monitoring their actions, and they will be part of the review list."
Furthermore, he mentioned that leading candidates like Fakhrul Islam (Noakhali-5) and Mohammad Enamul Haq (Chattogram-12) are being examined because of multiple accusations.
The leader of the BNP stated that Fakhrul is accused of being associated with Jamaat and the S Alam Group, while Enamul is believed to have ties with the Awami League and the S Alam Group. "They are also not very popular or widely accepted among the local level. Other selected candidates will also be examined and might be substituted with leaders who are more popular and accepted,"
Other contenders being considered for different reasons are Abdul Gafur Sarker (Nilphamari-4), Farjana Sharmain (Natore-1), Ali Asgar Lobi (Khulna-5), Akhtarul Alam (Mymensingh-6), Nabiullah Nobi (Dhaka-5), Professor SM Rafiqul Islam Bachchu (Gazipur-3), Sardar Sakhwat Hossain Bokul (Narsingdi-4), Emarn Ahmed (Sylhet-6), and Monirul Haq Chowdhury (Cumilla-6).
Party insiders mentioned that ongoing internal disputes continue in more than two dozen constituencies, where competing candidates still hold significant influence. If nominations in these regions are not reassessed, some marginalized leaders might choose to run for the elections as independent candidates.
They mentioned that BNP is assessing the conduct of the declared candidates in relation to local leaders and activists, especially those who were not given nominations.
"The top leadership is also emphasizing the initiatives of the selected candidates to bring unity at the local level. If a chosen candidate is unable to foster reconciliation despite genuine efforts, the party is thinking about replacing them for the sake of electoral solidarity. However, individuals who keep causing splits even after attempts at reconciliation might encounter severe internal consequences," stated a BNP official responsible for overseeing the activities of the selected candidates.
The leader of the BNP also mentioned that certain well-known local leaders who were not given nominations are being contacted by other political parties to stand as their candidates or as independent contenders. "There are efforts to split BNP's votes by having these leaders run as independents," he further stated.
He mentioned that they are confirming the eligibility of selected candidates via impartial sources following reports of conflicts within various districts, and some adjustments could be made to the original nomination list after the review.
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Spontaneous demonstrations and calls for re-evaluating BNP candidates have arisen in Satkhira-2, Satkhira-3, Mymensingh-3, Mymensingh-6, Brahmanbaria-4, Brahmanbaria-5, Sylhet-4, Chapainawabganj-2, Habiganj-4, Rangpur-3, Cox's Bazar-4, Narsingdi-4, Narayanganj-2, Meherpur-2, Chattogram-2, Chattogram-4, Chattogram-16, Natore-1, Gazipur-3, Sunamganj-5, Netrakona-3, Chandpur-2, Chandpur-4, Gopalganj-2, Noakhali-5, and Madaripur-1, after grievances regarding selections and the alleged neglect of committed regional figures.
Reached, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed mentioned that when the party released the list of 237 prospective candidates, it was explicitly noted that certain modifications could occur in the future according to the choice made by the party's selection committee.
"Because this is not referred to as a definitive choice, there is still opportunity for reevaluation in some instances. If any party's decision is determined to be wrong, there is potential for review and possible correction," he mentioned.
A member of the BNP Standing Committee, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated to UNB that discontent in certain constituencies is to be expected. "There could be frustration in some regions. We are monitoring and managing the situation with care."
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