BNP Faces Rebel Candidates in Two Pabna Seats

Two rebel candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not withdraw their nominations on the final day of withdrawal for the 13th National Parliament election, and will now contest as independent candidates in two constituencies of Pabna.

The candidates are KM Anwarul Islam in Pabna-3 (Chatmohar–Bhangura–Faridpur) and Zakaria Pintu in Pabna-4 (Ishwardi–Atgharia). KM Anwarul Islam is a former member of parliament and a member of the BNP central executive committee. Zakaria Pintu is a former joint general secretary of the district BNP.

Meanwhile, Sirajul Islam Sardar, former district BNP president and former MP, withdrew his nomination from Pabna-4 on Tuesday (20 January), the final day for withdrawal.

Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Shahed Mostafa confirmed at around 5:00pm that Sirajul Islam Sardar was the only candidate to withdraw from Pabna-4 on the last day.

In Pabna-3, BNP-nominated candidate Krishibid Hasan Zafir Tuhin, president of the Krishak Dal central committee, will contest the seat. Other contenders include Maulana Ali Azgar of Jamaat-e-Islami, Abdul Khalek of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mir Nadim Mohammad Dablu of the Jatiya Party, Sardar Asha Parvez of Gono Forum, and Mahbubur Rahman Joy Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Supreme Party.

In Pabna-4, BNP candidate Habibur Rahman Habib, district BNP convener and adviser to the BNP chairperson, will contest. Other candidates include Professor Abu Taleb Mandal, district ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Anwar Shah of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Saiful Azad Mullick of the Jatiya Party, Shahnaz Haque of Nagorik Oikya, and Sohag Hossain of the Bangladesh Community Party.

In Pabna-5 (Sadar) constituency, candidates include Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas of Sramik Dal, Principal Iqbal Hussain, district Jamaat naib-e-ameer, Nazmul Hossain of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Abdul Majid Molla of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, all contesting under BNP affiliation or backing.

In total, 18 candidates will contest across Pabna-3, Pabna-4 and Pabna-5.

Due to constituency boundary complications, the Election Commission has announced a revised schedule for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2.

The deadline for nomination withdrawal in these two constituencies is 26 and 27 January, respectively, after which election symbols will be allotted.