Who Is BNP’s Pick for Tarique’s Vacant Bogura Seat?

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has vacated the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after winning both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 in the 13th parliamentary election. He relinquished Bogura-6 the day before taking oath as Prime Minister. A by-election will now be held in the vacant seat, though the Election Commission has not yet announced the schedule.

Bogura-6 has historically been a stronghold for BNP and the Zia family. From 1991 to 2008, BNP candidates won the seat by large margins in every general election. The late Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia secured landslide victories in 1996, 2001, and 2008 with the 'sheaf of paddy' symbol. In the 12 February 2026 election, Tarique Rahman also won decisively in the constituency.

Discussions are ongoing within BNP about the candidate for the by-election. Names circulating include Tarique Rahman's wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Local leaders being considered are Bogura District BNP President and former mayor Rezaul Karim (Badsha), former district BNP President and former mayor AKM Mahbubur Rahman, former district BNP President Saiful Islam, former MP for Bogura-7 Helaluzzaman Talukder, and BNP Media Cell Convener Moudud Hossain Almgir (Pavel).

Acting General Secretary of Bogura District BNP and MP for Bogura-4 Mosharraf Hossain said the party has not yet finalized the candidate. He added that the decision rests with the party high command, particularly the chairman, after the by-election schedule is announced. He noted that Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 are considered Zia family seats, and the choice—whether a family member or another leader—will be made by Tarique Rahman.