BNP zeroes in on nomination, seat sharing

The BNP is preparing to announce candidates for around 200 constituencies and kick off its election campaign within a month, ahead of the national polls planned for February.

Party insiders said several internal surveys have already been carried out, and intelligence reports on prospective contenders are now being gathered.

Area-wise surveys are ongoing, CVs of aspirants are being reviewed, and interviews are in progress. Our goal is to uphold fairness in nominations.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury BNP Standing Committee member

Once compiled, the findings will be placed before the BNP Standing Committee, which also functions as the parliamentary board, for final approval.

The party will then officially announce its nominees and launch extensive door-to-door campaigns to establish a strong presence on the ground and build momentum surrounding the polls.

Acting chairman Tarique Rahman shared his idea on nominations at the last meeting of the party's Standing Committee on September 15.

Sources said the discussion also touched on grassroots concerns that, after its student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's poor performance in the Ducsu and Jucsu polls, the BNP must begin its campaign without delay.

They also noted that the Jamaat-e-Islami has already announced its candidates and started canvassing. BNP leaders expressed fear the Jamaat could gain ground with an early start while the BNP remains preoccupied with street protests and political standoffs.

Contacted, Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said area-wise surveys are ongoing, CVs of aspirants are being reviewed, and interviews are in progress.

"Our goal is to uphold fairness in nominations, and we're making every effort to achieve that," he told The Daily Star.

At a press briefing yesterday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said qualified, popular individuals accepted by the people will be chosen after proper scrutiny through the party's designated process. The names will be announced at the appropriate time.

INTERNAL DISCIPLINE

Tarique, the party's second-in-command, has already spoken with organising secretaries and vice-chairmen overseeing division-wise units about internal rivalries that may arise once single candidates are named.

They are now holding meetings with aspirants in constituencies with multiple contenders, reminding the hopefuls to respect party decisions and warning that feuds over nominations will not be tolerated.

Besides, party leaders are having constituency-wise informal talks with the aspirants.

This comes as nomination hopefuls in several areas began using posters and banners to draw attention from the high command for securing a ticket.

On September 20, while addressing the Kishoreganj District unit's triennial council virtually from London, Tarique urged leaders and activists to respect party decisions.

"When a decision is made [by the party], it is the responsibility of each of us to implement that at any cost," he said.

According to sources, the BNP will also keep backup candidates in many seats, in case nominees are disqualified due to loan defaults, cases, or other issues.

SEAT-SHARING

Besides picking party candidates, the BNP is having talks with its allies about sharing seats and also for a possible expansion of its electoral alliance.

Sources said the party might give away around 50 seats to candidates of its allies.

If the BNP opts for a broader electoral alliance, it may sacrifice more seats in favour of its allies. Hence, it is going to announce candidates for 200 constituencies initially.

In October last year, the BNP instructed its grassroots to support six top leaders of its allies.

They are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rab (Lakshmipur-4); Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna (Bogura-2); Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki (Dhaka-12); Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur (Patuakhali-3) and General Secretary Rashed Khan (Jhenaidah-2); and Jatiya Dal Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda (Kishoreganj-5).

More recently, the BNP gave the green signal to Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho for Dhaka-17 and Nationalist Democratic Movement Chairman Bobby Hajjaj for Dhaka-13, directing local units to work for them.

A top leader of Dhaka North BNP confirmed the matter to The Daily Star. "We've informed leaders and activists of these two constituencies about the party decision," he said, wishing anonymity.     

When asked, Partho told this newspaper that seat negotiations between his party and the BNP are ongoing for several constituencies.

The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance last contested a general election in 2018 under the Jatiya Oikya Front, ceding 59 seats to allies.

Candidates with the BNP's paddy sheaf symbol won seven seats in that election and got another from seats reserved for women, but Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir refused to take oath.

Out of power since 2007, the party won 30 seats in the 2008 polls, boycotted the 2014 election where 153 MPs were elected uncontested, and again boycotted the 2024 polls as its caretaker government demand remained unfulfilled.

CRITERIA, MANIFESTO 

Party insiders said the BNP will take into consideration its 2018 nominees alongside new aspirants.

Dedication, honesty, popularity, organisational ability, and contributions to the anti-government movement during the Awami League's rule and the July uprising will weigh heavily.

Those accused of unethical behaviour after Sheikh Hasina's fall and damaged the party's image will be excluded.

Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and Advisory Council member Ismail Zabiullah are among those involved in scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the BNP has begun preparing its election manifesto, drawing on the 31-point state reform agenda unveiled by Tarique and the Vision-2030 plan announced by Chairperson Khaleda Zia in 2016, which stressed inclusivity.

Amir Khosru said significant progress has been made. "Our manifesto will be subject-based," he added.