BNP speeds up seat-sharing negotiations with allies
Reza Mahmud :
As the mid February national polls are nearing the BNP high-commands are under pressure to finalises the party’s nominations and confirming seat sharing with the allies who were its companions during the anti-Hasina movement simultaneously.
Party insiders said the BNP is expediting discussions with its political allies to settle seat-sharing deals in preparation for the upcoming national election. The party is working to build an electoral alliance that brings together right-leaning, leftist, moderate, and liberal democratic forces.
Since the BNP has pledged to form a national government if elected, senior leaders said they are willing to allocate a reasonable number of seats to coalition partners, considering their organisational strength, popularity, acceptability, and past experience.
A BNP Standing Committee member, preferring anonymity, said the Standing Committee, in its meeting Tuesday night, discussed ways to swiftly finalise nominations with partners so that both uncertainty and internal disputes are avoided, allowing campaign activities to start without delay.
The party policy makers said as its main competitor Jamaat-e-Islami has finalised their nominations, the BNP is trying utmost to do that shortly.
When contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan told The New Nation, “We learnt that Jamaat-e-Islami has finalised
its nominations in almost all seats. The BNP is also taking preparation to fixed the candidacies very soon.”
The BNP leader said, the party high ups have decided to share seats with the allies and this also to be confirmed shortly.
BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal echoed the same while talking with The New Nation saying the party is always ready for election.
“As the largest political party, the BNP has huge number of aspirant candidates in all the 300 seats. But it is not a problem as all of the party men are waiting from the decision of the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in this regards,” Alal said.
He said, the BNP high-ups are aware enough of the significant of the upcoming national polls and they conveyed the issue to all stages leaders of the party.
Sources said, the BNP leadership is preparing to formally sit with partners in the anti-Awami League alliance to determine seat distributions. According to insiders, the party high command is carefully weighing candidates’ winning potential, track record, public acceptance, and the likely strength of rival contenders before finalising lists.
BNP hopes to conclude seat-sharing talks by October, after which leaders and workers will be directed to coordinate with allies in the allocated constituencies. In some seats where partners have been assured nominations, BNP has already informed local units to begin working in unison.
Sources said, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rab likely to be nominated for Lakshmipur-4; Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna for Bogura-2; Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki for Dhaka-12; Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur for Patuakhali-3, with the party’s General Secretary Rashed Khan set to contest from Jhenaidah-2; and Jatiya Dal Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda for Kishoreganj-5.
In addition, BNP has recently endorsed Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho in Dhaka-17 and Nationalist Democratic Movement Chairman Bobby Hajjaj in Dhaka-13, instructing grassroots leaders to extend full support to their campaigns.
However, BNP will tread cautiously in seat distribution. Under the revised RPO, allies cannot run under BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol as before. To address this, BNP is considering alternative recognition, such as promising technocrat ministerial posts or positions in an upper chamber of parliament if it forms the next government, especially for senior leaders unable to contest elections.
The party is also closely monitoring Jamaat-e-Islami’s moves. Jamaat has announced candidates in all 300 constituencies and begun extensive campaigning.
A BNP leader noted that while Jamaat has finalised single nominees in each seat, it has limited popularity compared to BNP, where multiple aspirants are competing in nearly every constituency.
“Premature announcements could trigger factionalism, which is why BNP is waiting for the official schedule before naming candidates,” he explained.
So far, BNP has directed about 150 likely candidates-mostly influential figures with traditional claims on their seats-to begin groundwork.
Decisions on the remaining constituencies will depend on detailed evaluations and alliance arrangements. Final nominations will be approved by a Parliamentary Board.
The party is also conducting surveys and collecting reports from local leaders to gauge electability, aiming to complete informal selections by next month.
Asked about seat demands, he said allies are asking for many constituencies, but decisions will ultimately depend on field surveys. “Our leaders are assessing on the ground to see where which candidate gives us the best chance of winning.”
BNP insiders say candidates for 100-150 seats are already settled, with only one aspirant per constituency. In the rest, where multiple contenders are active, assessments are ongoing.