BNP rebel candidates remain above 50 seats

Reza Mahmud :

Despite taking punitive actions including cancellations of party membership and adjourning committees more than fifty rebel candidates yet to remain election field creating mammoth challenges for the BNP and its alliance contenders, party sources said.

Ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the BNP is facing a new challenge from these rebel candidates across the country. After the finalisation of party nominations, rebel candidates of the party remain active in at least more than fifty parliamentary constituencies across the country.

Even on Tuesday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations according to the Election Commission’s announced schedule, these BNP rebel candidates did not withdraw their candidacies. Observers fear this could have a major impact on party unity and vote calculations.

Party sources say many long-time, dedicated leaders have become disgruntled after failing to secure party nominations. Some have announced their decision to contest the election as independent candidates, while others have openly opposed the party’s decisions. As most of these rebel candidates are popular at district and upazila levels, there is concern that BNP votes may be split in the respective constituencies.

Meanwhile, BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Wednesday warned that the party will take organisational action against its ‘rebel’ candidates if they do not step aside from the election race.

“Time for withdrawal of candidacy has passed. Now discussions will be held by the Election Steering Committee and by the top leadership of BNP. After that, if anyone remains a candidate, organisational action will definitely be taken against them by the party,” he said.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s election office in Gulshan, Mahdi said the party wants all members to work together with full dedication for the candidates under the party’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol.

Political analysts said there are number of party leaders has huge sacrifice for the BNP in the last nearly two decades of fascist Hasina regime.

When contacted, Professor SM Ali Reza of Political Science Department of Dhaka University told The New Nation, “All of those leaders think they have a right to get party nomination. But they also have to realise there are only one ticket for each seat so they have to consider for the greater good for the party and the country also.”

He suggested the party high-ups to consider those leaders in future elections and during the committee reshufflings.

A member of BNP’s election steering committee said many nomination seekers had worked actively in the field for a long time. However, due to political realities and strategic considerations, it was not possible to nominate everyone. Although efforts were made to persuade rebel candidates to withdraw, only some complied with party decisions, while many defied them and remained in the race.

The party has said that organisational action will be taken against those who contest the election as independents in defiance of party decisions. Several leaders have already been expelled from party posts.
According to information received from district correspondents, BNP rebel candidates include: Engineer Abdus Sobhan, a member of the party’s central executive committee, in Barishal-1; BNP supporter Barrister Moeen Alam Firozi in Jhalokathi-1; Dr Saleq Chowdhury, president of Niamatpur Upazila BNP and a former MP, in Naogaon-1; and former MP Alamgir Kabir in Naogaon-6.
In Chandpur-4, Upazila BNP convener MA Hannan is contesting as a rebel candidate and has already been expelled from all party posts. In Bagerhat, all four parliamentary constituencies have rebel BNP candidates. Former MP MAH Selim is contesting in Bagerhat-1, 2 and 3, while BNP member Kazi Khairuzzaman Shipon is a rebel candidate in Bagerhat-4.
In Jhenaidah-4, Saiful Islam Firoz, senior joint secretary general of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, is contesting and has been expelled. Nilphamari-4 has two rebel candidates: district BNP joint general secretary Riyad Arfan Sarkar Rana and former Chhatra Dal leader SM Mamun Or Rashid.
In Cumilla-2, former APS to Khaleda Zia, Engineer MA Matin Khan, is contesting; in Cumilla-7, Chandina Upazila BNP president Atikul Alam Shawon; and in Cumilla-9, Samira Azim Dola, daughter of former BNP MP Anwarul Azim.
In Rajbari-2, former MP and central executive committee member Md Nasirul Haque Sabu is contesting. In Habiganj-1, executive committee member Sheikh Sujat Mia, and in Habiganj-4, district BNP joint convener Mizanur Rahman are rebel candidates.
In Kushtia-1, former joint convener of Daulatpur Upazila BNP Md Nuruzzaman is contesting. In Manikganj-1, former district Krishak Dal president Tojammel Haque Toja is contesting and has been expelled. In Manikganj-3, despite the party nominating district BNP president Afroza Khanam Rita, Ataur Rahman Ata, a member of the district BNP convener committee, is contesting and has been expelled for not withdrawing his nomination.
In Dhaka-12, former convener of Dhaka North BNP Saiful Islam Nirab is contesting. In Dhaka-14, Darussalam Thana BNP acting convener SA Siddique Saju is contesting and has been expelled.
In Patuakhali-3, recently expelled central BNP member Hasan Mamun has not withdrawn his candidacy. In Chattogram-16, former joint convener of North District BNP Liaqat Ali is contesting. In Dinajpur-2, district BNP joint secretary A N M Bazlur Rashid is a rebel candidate. In Dinajpur-5, rebel candidates include Parbatipur Upazila BNP president and former district BNP convener AZM Rezwanul Haque, and Upazila BNP agriculture affairs secretary SM Zakaria Bachchu. In Pirojpur-2, Mahmud Hossain is contesting against party decisions.
In Brahmanbaria-1, district BNP vice-president Advocate Kamruzzaman Mamun; in Brahmanbaria-2, former central BNP assistant international affairs secretary Barrister Rumin Farhana; and in Brahmanbaria-5, district BNP finance affairs secretary Nazmul Hossain Tapas are rebel candidates.
In Noakhali-2, national executive committee member Kazi Mofizur Rahman is contesting. In Noakhali-6, former two-time MP Engineer Mohammad Fazlul Azim and Engineer Tanvir Uddin Rajib, former general secretary of Hatiya Upazila BNP, are contesting.
In Sherpur-1, Shafiqul Islam Masud is a rebel candidate; in Sherpur-3, Md Aminul Islam, former general secretary of Jhenaigati Upazila BNP, is contesting.
In Tangail, rebel candidates are contesting in all four constituencies: Advocate Mohammad Ali in Tangail-1; former state minister and former adviser to the BNP chairperson Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad in Tangail-3; Abdul Halim Mia, vice-president of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, in Tangail-4; and district BNP general secretary Advocate Farhad Iqbal in Tangail-5. No expulsions have been reported so far.
In Pabna-3, former MP and central executive committee member KM Anwarul Islam is contesting, while in Pabna-4, former district BNP joint general secretary Zakaria Pintu is a rebel candidate.
In Munshiganj-1, district BNP convener committee member Momin Ali, and in Munshiganj-3, district BNP convener committee member secretary Md Mohiuddin are contesting.
In Jamalpur-3, Sadiqur Rahman Siddiqui Shubho is a rebel candidate. In Satkhira-3, central executive committee member Dr Shahidul Alam is contesting as a rebel candidate.
Additionally, in Narayanganj-1, BNP rebel candidate Dulal; in Narayanganj-2, Ataur Rahman Khan Angur; in Narayanganj-3, former state minister Rezaul Karim and former MP Muhammad Giasuddin; and in Narayanganj-4, former MP Muhammad Giasuddin and Shah Alam are contesting as rebel candidates.