BNP Drafts Preliminary Candidate List for 13th National Election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is diligently preparing a preliminary draft of candidates for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, aiming to announce the final list of single candidates by the first week of November if plans proceed smoothly. Party sources confirm that approximately 177 candidates have received preliminary approval, though not finalized. Decisions on remaining seats will follow after allocating constituencies to like-minded parties and coalition partners. BNP policymakers are keen to expedite the process to prevent political opponents from gaining an edge.

According to BNP sources, constituencies with multiple aspirants or internal candidacy disputes are being addressed by assigning senior Standing Committee members to specific divisions. These leaders are holding regular discussions with potential candidates at the party’s Gulshan office to resolve conflicts and ensure a single candidate per seat. The country has been divided into nine regions—eight divisions plus Cumilla—for this purpose. The process is led by five top leaders: Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman (Dhaka and Chattogram), Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (Sylhet and Khulna), Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan (Rajshahi and Rangpur), Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain (Cumilla and Barishal), and Salahuddin Ahmed (Mymensingh).

Preliminary lists prepared by these special cells will be debated in the Standing Committee, where adjustments will finalize the list. The same process will apply to seat-sharing with coalition partners, with Tarique Rahman authorized to make final decisions, as decided in a virtual Standing Committee meeting on Tuesday night. In key constituencies with multiple heavyweight aspirants, several names may be retained, with Tarique Rahman making last-minute decisions on inclusions or exclusions based on electoral strategy.

Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed termed the process a “pre-political exercise,” stating, “In areas with multiple aspirants, we’re discussing to ensure acceptance of the chosen candidate. We’ll allocate seats to allies, and workers must be prepared. Such political processes are standard before finalizing candidates.”

A draft candidate list circulating on social media was dismissed as false by BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed in a press conference. However, several party and alliance leaders confirmed to The Daily Campus that senior leaders, including Tarique Rahman, have personally instructed them to strengthen grassroots organizations and intensify election campaigns in their constituencies. A 12-party alliance leader, speaking anonymously, said, “Despite enduring severe repression under the fascist Hasina regime, including arrests and torture in riot cases, we stayed with BNP due to our nationalist ideals. Last week, Tarique Rahman inquired why I was in Dhaka instead of my constituency and urged me to campaign actively.”

This leader added, “Following his directive, I spend four to five days a week in my constituency, going door-to-door, distributing BNP’s 31-point leaflets, and engaging with voters, who are responding enthusiastically.” Young BNP aspirants echoed similar sentiments, noting instructions to boost public outreach despite no final confirmation.

BNP sources suggest that, given the changed political landscape, the final candidate list may prioritize young, popular, and uncontroversial grassroots leaders. Standing Committee member Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain told The Daily Campus, “Preliminary discussions with potential candidates are ongoing nationwide as part of organizational activities. We’re listening openly to resolve conflicts, ensuring unity for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol’s victory.”

Confirmed preliminary candidates include Barrister Nawshad Zamir (Panchagarh-1), Farhad Hossain Azad (Panchagarh-2), Tasvirul Islam (Kurigram-3), AKM Selim Reza Habib (Pabna-2), Hasan Zafir Tuhin (Pabna-3), Habibur Rahman Habib (Pabna-4), Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas (Pabna-5), Ali Ahmed (Magura-1), Shamsuzzaman Dudu (Chuadanga-1), Mahmud Hasan Khan (Chuadanga-2), Saiful Islam Firoz (Jhenaidah-4), Anindya Islam Amit (Jashore-3), Rakibul Islam Bakul (Khulna-3), Azizul Bari Helal (Khulna-4), ABM Mosharraf Hossain (Patuakhali-4), Hafiz Ibrahim (Bhola-2), Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bhola-3), Nurul Islam Nayan (Bhola-4), Zahir Uddin Swapan (Barishal-1), Advocate Joynul Abedin (Barishal-3), Rajib Ahsan (Barishal-4), Shahidul Islam Babul (Faridpur-4), Rashiduzzaman Millat (Jamalpur-1), Advocate Abdus Salam Pintu (Tangail-2), Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan (Tangail-8), Benzir Ahmed Tito (Tangail-4), Mostafizur Rahman Babul (Jamalpur-3), Wahab Akand (Mymensingh-4), Mahbubur Rahman (Sunamganj-1), Barrister Nasir Uddin Asim (Dhaka-10), Shahidul Islam Babul (Faridpur-4), Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel (Narsingdi-4), Bajlul Karim Chowdhury Abed (Noakhali-5), Habibur Rashid Habib (Dhaka-9), Joynta Kumar Kundu (Jhenaidah), Amiruzzaman Khan Shimul (Jhenaidah-3), Mamunur Rashid Mamun (Noakhali-1), Akramul Hasan Mintu (Narsingdi-3), Abdul Matin (Naogaon), Abubakar Siddik (Puthia-Durgapur), Sheikh Shammim and Tarun De (Brahmanbaria-Narail), Mostafa Khan Safari (Chadpur-2), Haider Ali Lelin (Bhola Sadar, Barishal-2), Kazi Rawnakul Islam Shraban (Jashore-6), Fazlur Rahman Khokon (Bogra-5), Iqbal Hossain Shyamal (Narsingdi-5), and Mofizur Rahman Ashiq (Chattogram-16).

Alliance Seat-Sharing: BNP plans to allocate up to 50 seats to coalition partners with winnable candidates. Ahead of the election schedule, the party aims to finalize single candidates, including for allies, by next month. Preliminary talks suggest around 20 seats for partners, with NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj announced as the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ candidate for Dhaka-13 by Dhaka Metropolitan BNP Convener Aminul Islam. Other coalition leaders signaled to campaign include ASM Abdur Rab (Lakshmipur-4), Mahmudur Rahman Manna (Bogra-4), Zonayed Saki (Dhaka-12, Brahmanbaria-6), Nurul Haq (Patuakhali-3), Rashed Khan (Jhenaidah-2), Syed Ehsanul Huda (Kishoreganj-5), and Saiful Haq (Revolutionary Workers Party).