Reza Mahmud and Abu Jakir :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is facing a growing internal challenge as discontent brews among its leaders and activists over the party’s recently announced list of parliamentary candidates. What was meant to be a show of unity ahead of the upcoming 13th National Election has instead triggered a wave of protests, clashes, and frustration from within.
Chattogram city BNP Convener Ershad Ullah, who is contesting from the Chattogram-8 (Chandgaon–Boalkhali) constituency, was shot during an election campaign in the Khandkarpara area on Wednesday afternoon. Another person was also injured.
Soon after the announcement of 237 candidates out of 300 constituencies deprived aspirants and their followers took to the streets in various parts of the country, accusing the party high command of favoritism and nepotism.
Protests, road blockades, and violent clashes were reported from Meherpur, Magura, Satkhira, Chandpur, Mymensingh, Madaripur, Natore, and Naogaon, leaving several people injured.
Party insiders admit that the situation poses a serious test for the BNP leadership. Several senior policymakers acknowledged that the nomination list is under review, and that candidate replacements may be made if deemed necessary.
“Discussions and reviews are ongoing regarding those deprived of nominations,” one policymaker said, adding that the final list will be confirmed after the official election schedule is announced.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for patience among the disgruntled aspirants, saying the party will recognize their contributions by assigning them future responsibilities. “Those who were deprived of nominations will not be ignored. They will be honored with important roles in the party in the future,” Fakhrul assured.
When contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told The New Nation on Wednesday only the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman could decide whether the candidacies would be revised or the excluded leaders reinstated.
Frustration over exclusion of senior figures
Among those excluded from the preliminary list are some of BNP’s most prominent names: Vice-Chairmen Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Asaduzzaman Ripon, Chairperson’s Advisers Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Zainul Abedin, and Abdus Salam, Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, former MP Rumin Farhana, Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, former Sylhet Mayor Ariful Haque, Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas, and former Munshiganj BNP President Abdul Hai, among others.
While these leaders have refrained from publicly criticizing the party’s decision, their supporters have expressed deep anger on the streets and online.
Social media platforms have been flooded with posts accusing the leadership of ignoring loyal veterans and favoring newcomers.
Former MP Rumin Farhana, who was not included in the initial list, said the nominations were still “preliminary” and subject to change. “This list should not be considered final,” she remarked, hinting that adjustments could still take place.
Facing mounting unrest, the BNP leadership has already suspended the nomination for the Madaripur-1 constituency, where violent clashes erupted after Kamal Zaman Mollah was named the candidate. His supporters’ rival faction, led by Sajjad Hossain Lavlu Siddiqui, blocked the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway on Monday night, forcing the party to reconsider its choice.
According to BNP sources, nominations for 64 seats remain unannounced, and around 40 of these may be allocated to alliance partners, while the rest could go to BNP aspirants.
Some of the heavyweight leaders currently left out are also being reconsidered for these pending constituencies.
Violence and tensions on the ground
Adding to the turmoil, Chattogram city BNP Convener Ershad Ullah, who is contesting from the Chattogram-8 (Chandgaon–Boalkhali) constituency, was shot during an election campaign in the Khandkarpara area on Wednesday afternoon. Another person was also injured.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz confirmed the incident, saying, “Three people, including the city BNP convener, were shot during the campaign. Police have already launched operations to arrest those involved.”
Balancing act amid growing unrest
BNP leaders describe the current list as an attempt to “maintain balance” between veteran politicians and young, energetic faces. Of the 237 candidates, 83 are from the younger generation, many of whom gained prominence during recent anti-government movements.
However, several of these young candidates are also relatives of former MPs or political families, leading critics to question whether the party is truly embracing change.
Out of the announced candidates, only 10 are women and four belong to minority communities, a representation many within the party acknowledge as insufficient.
As the BNP leadership grapples with managing rebellion and restoring unity, the next few weeks will prove crucial. Whether the party can reconcile its internal divisions before the polls may determine not just its electoral strength, but also its political credibility going forward.
