BNP submits nomination papers for Khaleda, Tarique

Staff Reporter :

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday submitted nomination papers on behalf of party chairperson Khaleda Zia for the Feni-1 constituency and for acting chairman Tarique Rahman for the Dhaka-17 constituency, as the final day for nominations for the 13th National Parliamentary Election drew to a close.

Khaleda Zia’s nomination papers were submitted at the district returning officer’s office in Feni at 1:15 pm by her election coordinator, Dhaka South City BNP convener Munshi Rafiqul Alam, also known as Majnu, along with party vice-chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo and adviser Zainul Abedin, known as VP Zainul.

Central and district BNP leaders, including Rehana Akhter Ranu, Abu Taleb, Shahana Akhter Shanu, and district convener Sheikh Farid Bahar, were present during the submission.

Munshi Rafiqul Alam emphasized that Khaleda Zia is the BNP’s candidate for Feni-1, saying, “The party candidate is Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

We are working on her behalf.” Abdul Awal Mintoo added that an alternative candidate has been designated in case Khaleda Zia is unable to contest due to health reasons. “Even if she is not on the ground, campaigning on her behalf is ongoing,” he said.

Earlier, on 21 December, BNP leaders, led by central executive committee member Abu Taleb, had collected the nomination form on Khaleda Zia’s behalf.

According to Feni District Commissioner and Returning Officer Monira Haque, Khaleda Zia and Munshi Rafiqul Alam have successfully submitted their papers.

Apart from BNP, 16 other candidates, including nominees from Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Congress, Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh, and Ganamukti Jote, collected nomination papers for the constituency.

Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman submitted his nomination papers for the Dhaka-17 constituency at approximately 12:15 pm at the office of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer in Segunbagicha.

The papers were submitted by Professor Farhad Haleem, chief adviser of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), BNP adviser Abdus Salam, and Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP convener Aminul Haque.

Party sources said Tarique Rahman became a registered voter of the Dhaka-17 constituency on Saturday, following his return to Bangladesh.

His candidature from Dhaka-17, which includes affluent areas such as Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara, had been under discussion within the party for some time.

In addition to Dhaka-17, Tarique Rahman will contest from his ancestral constituency, Bogura Sadar (Bogura-6), as the BNP candidate with the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, with nomination forms already collected on his behalf.

The Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election on 11 December, with polling set for 12 February.

This election comes after the July uprising last year, which led to the removal of the Awami League from power and the formation of the interim government preparing for the national polls.