BNP enters election race with anti-fascist movement allies

BNP flag with people

Dhaka, Dec 29 - BNP has formed its electoral alliance largely with parties that stood by it during the anti-fascist movement, bringing together moderate democratic, left-leaning and right-leaning groups, even though seat-sharing talks failed with several others.

As part of its electoral strategy, the BNP has formally brought some alliance leaders into the party and given them its election symbol: ‘Sheaf of Paddy’.

BNP sources said the party has shared 17 seats with its alliance partners, including those who joined the party to contest with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, while 283 BNP candidates are contesting the polls.

The party is expected to publish a detailed list of both its own candidates and alliance nominees very soon, as the deadline for submitting nomination papers ends today (Monday).

The biggest surprise in the alliance is BNP’s consensus with the registered Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, which has been allotted four seats — the highest number given to any single alliance partner.

With the Awami League barred from political activities under the changed political situation, the next parliamentary election is expected to see a direct contest mainly between the BNP-led alliance and the Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition.

Most of BNP’s electoral partners are parties that remained active on the streets alongside the BNP during the long movement against the Awami League regime. Seat-sharing agreements with these parties have already been finalised.

The BNP has left seats to registered alliance partners that enjoy national recognition and have a realistic chance of winning. As per the arrangement, the BNP will not field any candidates in these constituencies.

According to the seat-sharing agreement, Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna will contest from Bogura-2, Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho from Bhola-1, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque from Dhaka-12, Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki from Brahmanbaria-6, and Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haq Nur from Patuakhali-3, all using their respective party symbols.

In Dhaka-12, although the BNP initially nominated former Dhaka North unit convener Saiful Alam Nirab, his nomination was later withdrawn in favour of alliance partner Saiful Haque.

Besides, unregistered party NPP Chairman Dr Fariduzzaman Farhad will contest from Narail-2, while unregistered Jamiat Senior Joint Secretary General Mufti Rashid Bin Wakkas will contest from Jashore-5 using the Sheaf of Paddy. Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) Chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider will contest from Pirojpur-1.

The BNP has withdrawn its own candidates from these seats to maintain alliance unity.

As part of its electoral strategy and to strengthen unity, the BNP has also absorbed several top leaders of smaller, unregistered parties and given them the party symbol, despite their limited organisational strength.

Among them, Bangladesh LDP Chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim is contesting from Lakshmipur-1, while Bangladesh National Party Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda will contest from Kishoreganj-5. Both leaders joined the BNP after dissolving their parties.

The BNP earlier nominated its own candidate for Kishoreganj-5 but later changed its decision to reinforce the alliance.

LDP Secretary General Redowan Ahmed will contest from Cumilla-7, Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan from Jhenaidah-4, and National Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Bobby Hajjaj from Dhaka-13, all using the BNP symbol after joining the party.

The BNP has also reached a seat-sharing agreement with the registered Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh in four constituencies. The BNP will not nominate candidates in these seats.

Jamiat candidates are Maulana Md Manjurul Islam Afendi in Nilphamari-1, Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi in Narayanganj-4, Maulana Md Ubaidullah Faruq in Sylhet-5 and Maulana Junayed Al Habib in Brahmanbaria-2. They will contest using their party symbol, the Date Palm Tree.

Sources said the BNP earlier reached a preliminary understanding with Oli Ahmed-led LDP over two seats — Chattogram-14 and Cumilla-7.

However, Oli Ahmed later withdrew from the seat-sharing process after demanding around eight seats. Following this, LDP Secretary General Redowan Ahmed joined the BNP and secured nomination with the party symbol, while Oli Ahmed joined the Jamaat-led alliance.

The Labour Party also stayed out of the BNP alliance after failing to secure any seats.

Political analysts say that with the Awami League absent from the electoral race, it is natural for parties that supported the events of August 5 to compete with each other for power. This competition has resulted in clear political polarisation.

Two main blocs have now emerged —one led by the BNP and the other led by Jamaat-e-Islami, along with the NCP and other Islamic parties. The upcoming election is expected to be contested mainly between these two alliances. - UNB