Print: 28 Oct 2025
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is launching a strategic campaign to prepare for the upcoming general election, with a strong focus on rebuilding public trust.
According to party insiders, the BNP is working to orient its leaders and activists towards the parliamentary polls by initiating a door-to-door outreach programme starting in October.
BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has issued a firm directive to party men, urging them to remain united, disciplined, and connected to the people to gain their trust. In a recent social media post, he emphasised the need for transparency and accountability within the party to reflect the aspirations of a new generation.
Senior BNP leaders believe that the ongoing conflict among the anti-fascist political parties will be settled before the election, and finally all the parties will participate in the election as there is no alternative to it.
"As we prepare for elections in February 2026, we need to guarantee the trust of the voters across the entirety of the country. To do that, the BNP is rebuilding and reorganising our party from the grassroots up, embedding transparency and accountability, so that the BNP of today and tomorrow reflects the aspirations of a new generation," he said in a recent Facebook post.
Tarique Rahman further said, “To my party members, I simply ask that we stay united, stay disciplined, and stay committed to service. Just as you place your trust in me, I place my trust in each and every one of you for this task.”
Talking to the Daily Sun about the party’s election preparations, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “The country’s people are now eagerly waiting for the election. We are also taking preparation for this end. We believe that the BNP will win the people’s hearts in the polls. Following Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus of the interim government, the Chief Election Commissioner has announced that the next national election will be held in February next year, before the next Ramadan.
The government formed the National Consensus Commission (NCC) to bring reform to the state, and almost all the activities of the commission have been completed, except for a small number of reform agendas, while the commission’s tenure will expire next month.
BNP sources said the party is making initial preparations to announce single candidates for at least 70% of the 300 parliamentary seats before the national election schedule is announced.
The party has already distributed specific responsibilities among a number of central leaders, including the standing committee members, to prepare the list of potential candidates, and the leaders have started checking the popularity of potential candidates.
“Information regarding the actual popularity, acceptance and capacity of the potential candidates at the field level based at different constituencies is being collected from different wings. Only the potential candidates who have a good image in the respective areas will be considered for party nominations. No controversial or unpopular person will be nominated by the BNP to contest the polls this time,” a senior leader of the BNP told the Daily Sun, wishing not to be named.
Several leaders at the BNP’s policy-making level said that the context is a little different this year, and various changes in the party’s decisions will be made by considering this issue.
They said after various calculations, preparations are underway to field candidates in different areas to consolidate the party’s position under the guidance of influential leaders and reach out more closely to the people.
The BNP policymakers further said they have decided to prioritise the younger generation in giving nominations.
The BNP may take into consideration the issue of “alliance” or “compromise” for sharing 70-80 parliamentary seats to contest the polls, they said, adding that the allies may also be verbally informed that they will give up some specific seats.
Sources at the BNP said nearly 2,000 individuals have expressed their interest in contesting the polls in one of the 300 parliamentary seats, with many already actively campaigning in their constituencies.
A handful of candidates have received the party’s initial endorsement, while selections for about 100 seats - those involving prominent figures like BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, acting chairman Tarique Rahman, and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir - are reportedly near finalisation.
“BNP is a democratic and election-oriented political party. That’s why we are always prepared to take part in elections. Some preparations, such as finalising nominations, will be completed once the election schedule is announced,” BNP Standing Committee Member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku told the Daily Sun.
He added, “We currently have five to seven potential candidates vying for nomination in each constituency. We aim to select the most suitable contenders from among them.”
Tuku outlined the primary criteria for nominating candidates: integrity, popularity, and the ability to help implement the party’s proposed reforms for the state.
On condition of anonymity, a central leader of the BNP said there will be a surprise in selecting candidates in some seats; many senior and influential leaders will not get nominations in the polls this time. “BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will choose candidates who are dedicated, honest, competent and above all acceptable to the people.”
“Besides, it is certain that leaders facing specific allegations of misdeeds and unacceptable to the people will not be able to be a candidate. In this regard, Tarique Rahman has collected the records of the BNP leaders and its affiliate organisations,” he added.
BNP sources said after Tarique Rahman returns to the country, the party’s parliamentary board will finalise the candidates and will declare the list either at a big press conference in the capital or through a constituency-based programme in accordance with the party’s proper rules or procedures.
The party’s standing committee in its meeting on 15 September decided to go “door to door” to the voters through various public-related programmes while the party men will focus the positive steps of the BNP government in the past, including a 31-point state reform formula and the promises of the future development during the programmes across the country that is likely to start in October.
Through this, the party is trying to create an electoral wave across the country. To make this programme successful, necessary instructions have been given to the party leaders and activists across the country, the BNP insiders said.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has already finalised the names of potential candidates for 296 seats, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh has prepared a list of candidates for 300 seats, Khelafat Majlish, led by Mamunul Haque, has announced the names of candidates for 268 seats, and Gono Odhikar Parishad has also announced the names of potential candidates for 36 seats in the first phase.
BNP sources said the party has decided to take steps to counter various propaganda and disinformation campaigns about the party ahead of the national polls. At the same time, the party wants to remain in the field with different programmes while seven Islamist parties, including the Jamaat, have outlined movements to press home their separate demands.
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BNP sets strategy to woo voters, win public trust before polls
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is launching a strategic campaign to prepare for the upcoming general election, with a strong focus on rebuilding public trust.
According to party insiders, the BNP is working to orient its leaders and activists towards the parliamentary polls by initiating a door-to-door outreach programme starting in October.
BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has issued a firm directive to party men, urging them to remain united, disciplined, and connected to the people to gain their trust. In a recent social media post, he emphasised the need for transparency and accountability within the party to reflect the aspirations of a new generation.
Senior BNP leaders believe that the ongoing conflict among the anti-fascist political parties will be settled before the election, and finally all the parties will participate in the election as there is no alternative to it.
"As we prepare for elections in February 2026, we need to guarantee the trust of the voters across the entirety of the country. To do that, the BNP is rebuilding and reorganising our party from the grassroots up, embedding transparency and accountability, so that the BNP of today and tomorrow reflects the aspirations of a new generation," he said in a recent Facebook post.
Tarique Rahman further said, “To my party members, I simply ask that we stay united, stay disciplined, and stay committed to service. Just as you place your trust in me, I place my trust in each and every one of you for this task.”
Talking to the Daily Sun about the party’s election preparations, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “The country’s people are now eagerly waiting for the election. We are also taking preparation for this end. We believe that the BNP will win the people’s hearts in the polls. Following Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus of the interim government, the Chief Election Commissioner has announced that the next national election will be held in February next year, before the next Ramadan.
The government formed the National Consensus Commission (NCC) to bring reform to the state, and almost all the activities of the commission have been completed, except for a small number of reform agendas, while the commission’s tenure will expire next month.
BNP sources said the party is making initial preparations to announce single candidates for at least 70% of the 300 parliamentary seats before the national election schedule is announced.
The party has already distributed specific responsibilities among a number of central leaders, including the standing committee members, to prepare the list of potential candidates, and the leaders have started checking the popularity of potential candidates.
“Information regarding the actual popularity, acceptance and capacity of the potential candidates at the field level based at different constituencies is being collected from different wings. Only the potential candidates who have a good image in the respective areas will be considered for party nominations. No controversial or unpopular person will be nominated by the BNP to contest the polls this time,” a senior leader of the BNP told the Daily Sun, wishing not to be named.
Several leaders at the BNP’s policy-making level said that the context is a little different this year, and various changes in the party’s decisions will be made by considering this issue.
They said after various calculations, preparations are underway to field candidates in different areas to consolidate the party’s position under the guidance of influential leaders and reach out more closely to the people.
The BNP policymakers further said they have decided to prioritise the younger generation in giving nominations.
The BNP may take into consideration the issue of “alliance” or “compromise” for sharing 70-80 parliamentary seats to contest the polls, they said, adding that the allies may also be verbally informed that they will give up some specific seats.
Sources at the BNP said nearly 2,000 individuals have expressed their interest in contesting the polls in one of the 300 parliamentary seats, with many already actively campaigning in their constituencies.
A handful of candidates have received the party’s initial endorsement, while selections for about 100 seats - those involving prominent figures like BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, acting chairman Tarique Rahman, and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir - are reportedly near finalisation.
“BNP is a democratic and election-oriented political party. That’s why we are always prepared to take part in elections. Some preparations, such as finalising nominations, will be completed once the election schedule is announced,” BNP Standing Committee Member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku told the Daily Sun.
He added, “We currently have five to seven potential candidates vying for nomination in each constituency. We aim to select the most suitable contenders from among them.”
Tuku outlined the primary criteria for nominating candidates: integrity, popularity, and the ability to help implement the party’s proposed reforms for the state.
On condition of anonymity, a central leader of the BNP said there will be a surprise in selecting candidates in some seats; many senior and influential leaders will not get nominations in the polls this time. “BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will choose candidates who are dedicated, honest, competent and above all acceptable to the people.”
“Besides, it is certain that leaders facing specific allegations of misdeeds and unacceptable to the people will not be able to be a candidate. In this regard, Tarique Rahman has collected the records of the BNP leaders and its affiliate organisations,” he added.
BNP sources said after Tarique Rahman returns to the country, the party’s parliamentary board will finalise the candidates and will declare the list either at a big press conference in the capital or through a constituency-based programme in accordance with the party’s proper rules or procedures.
The party’s standing committee in its meeting on 15 September decided to go “door to door” to the voters through various public-related programmes while the party men will focus the positive steps of the BNP government in the past, including a 31-point state reform formula and the promises of the future development during the programmes across the country that is likely to start in October.
Through this, the party is trying to create an electoral wave across the country. To make this programme successful, necessary instructions have been given to the party leaders and activists across the country, the BNP insiders said.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has already finalised the names of potential candidates for 296 seats, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh has prepared a list of candidates for 300 seats, Khelafat Majlish, led by Mamunul Haque, has announced the names of candidates for 268 seats, and Gono Odhikar Parishad has also announced the names of potential candidates for 36 seats in the first phase.
BNP sources said the party has decided to take steps to counter various propaganda and disinformation campaigns about the party ahead of the national polls. At the same time, the party wants to remain in the field with different programmes while seven Islamist parties, including the Jamaat, have outlined movements to press home their separate demands.