Who will get priority in the 63 seats left vacant by BNP

The BNP has announced the names of potential candidates for 237 seats in the 13th National Parliament election. The BNP has left the remaining 63 seats vacant. However, the leaders of the tested alliance parties will get priority in nominating most of the seats on this list. The party has left several seats vacant for the top leaders of the political parties that stood by the BNP in the anti-Awami League movement and provided unwavering support even after August 5.
It is now a matter of time who the BNP will ultimately choose for these seats during the alliance-based seat sharing. In addition, the remaining resigned leaders of the party will be nominated for the remaining seats after the alliance-based distribution. Some of these seats are still vacant where it is being further examined to see which of the multiple eligible candidates will be easier to win if they are nominated. Again, the names of candidates for many seats have not been announced yet, fearing that announcing a single candidate may create chaos among the party’s nomination aspirants. Multiple reliable sources in the party have informed us of this information.
Yesterday, Monday (October 3), at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the names of BNP candidates. In his speech, the issue of keeping seats vacant for the alliance’s candidates came up. He said, a list of potential candidates for about 237 seats is being given. At the same time, among those who are protesting with us, we have not given candidates in the seats where we want to put candidates. They will tell us which seats they will put candidates in. Coordination will be done later. It is learned that BNP has kept seats vacant for leaders of various political parties including LDP, Ganatra Mancha, Gana Odhikar Parishad, Gana Forum, 12-Party Alliance, Samyani Alliance and Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP. Among the people who may get priority to get BNP’s support is Professor Omar Faruk, son of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmed. He may get BNP’s support in Chittagong-14 constituency. BNP has not nominated anyone in that constituency. Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna has announced his candidacy for Bogra-2 (Shibganj) constituency. BNP has not nominated anyone for this constituency. Ganaodhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Noor may get support for Patuakhali-3 constituency. Party General Secretary Rashed Khan will contest for Jhenaidah-2 constituency. BNP has also not nominated a candidate for this constituency.
Bangladesh LDP Chairman and 12-party alliance spokesperson Shahadat Hossain Selim may get support for Lakshmipur-1 constituency. BNP has also not nominated anyone for this constituency. In this context, Shahadat Hossain Selim said, “I have been given a verbal signal from the BNP high command to work long ago. I am conducting election activities. I hope BNP will support me in Lakshmipur-1 constituency.” He also said that he will contest for this constituency in 2018 as well.
Tania Rob, wife of JSD’s Asam Abdur Rob, will contest for Lakshmipur-4 constituency. BNP has also not fielded a candidate for this seat. BJP’s Andalib Rahman Partha will contest from Dhaka-17 and Bobby Hajjaj will contest from Dhaka-13. BNP has not fielded any candidate for these two seats.
Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran wants to contest the election from Jhalakathi-1 with BNP’s support. BNP has not fielded anyone from this seat. In this context, Mostafizur Rahman Iran said, “During the misrule of the fascist Awami League, we stood by BNP and carried out an anti-fascist movement. I still stand by BNP. As a partner of the alliance, I firmly believe that I will get BNP’s support in Jhalakathi-1. In the 2018 election, I contested from Pirojpur-2 with BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol. This time, I believe that BNP will support me in Jhalakathi-1.” The chief coordinator of the Mass Solidarity Movement, Jonayed Saki, is preparing for the election in Brahmanbaria-6 constituency. He is also conducting mass mobilization in that constituency. The party has not nominated anyone in this constituency. Besides, the seats of many other leaders of the alliance are vacant. Those leaders can be supported there.