BNP Primary List: Khaleda, Tarique Nominated for 13th Election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today announced a primary list of candidates for 237 constituencies for the upcoming 13th national election, set for February. The list, which may be revised, was unveiled by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir following a meeting of the National Standing Committee at the party chairperson's Gulshan office.

Key Candidate Nominations

• BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is slated to contest from Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7, and Feni-1. • Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has been nominated for Bogura-6.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the list after the Standing Committee meeting, which Tarique Rahman presided over virtually from London.

• Other notable nominees include:

o Mahmud Hasan Khan (BGMEA President) for Chuadanga-2. o Abdul Awal Mintoo (former FBCCI President) for Feni-3. o Ishraque Hossain for Dhaka-6.

Alliances and Strategic Seats • Seven constituencies in Dhaka have been left vacant, leading to speculation that the BNP may allocate these seats to allied democratic parties who have participated in the anti-fascist movement. • Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton (former Jubo Dal general secretary) is nominated for Dhaka-15 and is expected to face Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. • Md Fazlur Rahman is nominated for Kishoreganj-4. He previously contested the seat twice and had faced political harassment, including a sedition charge, forcing him to remain abroad.

Addressing the decision to potentially support candidates from other parties, Tarique Rahman urged all BNP leaders and workers to accept the reality of strategic nominations in the interest of the country and democracy. He warned against "petty resentments, quarrels or disputes" that could allow opponents to exploit their differences, emphasizing the need for unity behind the final nominated candidates and the party's 'sheaf of paddy' symbol.

The Standing Committee meeting, attended by key members like Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, followed Tarique Rahman's announcement yesterday (November 2) regarding the upcoming release of the first nomination list.