Print: 28 Oct 2025
The BNP has shifted its full focus to identifying potential candidates and negotiating seat-sharing with its allies in preparation for the national election, expected to be held in February next year, before Ramadan.
Party insiders said the BNP high command has appointed five survey teams to conduct assessments across the country to gauge the popularity and public image of potential candidates. At the same time, the party has requested its allied parties, which are part of the ongoing joint movement, to provide lists of their prospective candidates for the polls.
“Our scrutiny of potential candidates is ongoing. We have asked for lists of potential candidates from our allies. We will sit on this issue soon and compile a primary list of aspirants to contest the national polls,” BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku told the Daily Sun.
He added that the final selection will be made by the BNP’s parliamentary board after the Election Commission announces the election schedule.
Tuku emphasised that the party wants to nominate candidates with a clean image and sufficient popularity to secure victory.
“We have yet to finalise seat-sharing with our allies, but we will give nominations to capable candidates who have acceptability among people in their respective constituencies and can win in the polls,” he added.
Another BNP leader said the party aims to announce potential candidates in around 200 constituencies next month to accelerate preparations for the election.
“BNP has asked allied parties who participated in the previous anti-fascist movement to provide lists of their potential candidates,” Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim told the Daily Sun.
He added that the BNP has also given the green light to many allied candidates to operate in different constituencies.
Following the BNP’s approval, several allied leaders are already working in their respective areas: Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Bobby Hajjaj in Dhaka-13, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha in Dhaka-17, Ganasanghati Andolan Chief Coordinator Junayed Saqi in Brahmanbaria-6, Jatiya Dal Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda in Kishorganj-5, and Shahadat Hossain Selim in Laxmipur-1.
Party sources said the BNP faces little uncertainty in 150 of the 300 constituencies, with candidates largely determined. However, the remaining 150 seats are under serious scrutiny, with roughly 50 expected to be allocated to allies. The party aims to finalise all candidacies, including those of its allies, within the next month.
At a BNP National Standing Committee meeting on Tuesday night, acting chairman Tarique Rahman was tasked with finalising the candidate list.
He has been supervising five surveys and is consulting divisional organisational secretaries, as well as district presidents and general secretaries, to assess potential candidates, according to party sources.
The process also involves gathering opinions from constituency-based candidates through responsible departmental leaders.
“Tarique Rahman will select the party candidates after considering everything,” a senior BNP leader said, speaking anonymously.
Party sources indicated that new candidates may be fielded in more than 100 of the remaining 150 seats.
Priority will be given to those who have actively participated in the pro-democracy struggle, especially the movement following 28 October 2023, and who have demonstrated honesty, a clean image, and local popularity.
Young candidates across the country are already active in election work, even though nominations have not yet been finalised.
The BNP has decided to launch a nationwide door-to-door campaign in mid-October to mobilise voter support, create a festive election atmosphere, and orient party leaders and activists towards election preparedness.
The campaign will be conducted at district, upazila, union, and ward levels through meetings, gatherings, and discussions, while “uthan boithok” (home-yard meetings) have already begun in several constituencies.
The party also plans to engage Islamist political parties, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Hefazat-e-Islam, as well as the National Citizen Party and Gana Odhikar Parishad, to explore electoral understandings and potential compromises before the polls.
The government has instructed the Election Commission to hold elections in February next year, and the EC is carrying out all necessary preparations.
BNP insiders said senior leaders have been meeting hundreds of nomination aspirants at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office since 20 September to minimise internal conflicts and settle all issues within the party ahead of the polls.
Tarique Rahman has instructed party leaders and activists to work for the collective success of the party, symbolised by the sheaf of paddy, rather than focusing on any individual leader.
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]
Edited by M Munir Hossain
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BNP launches candidate hunt, eyes fresh, popular faces for polls
The party asks allies for lists of prospective candidates
The BNP has shifted its full focus to identifying potential candidates and negotiating seat-sharing with its allies in preparation for the national election, expected to be held in February next year, before Ramadan.
Party insiders said the BNP high command has appointed five survey teams to conduct assessments across the country to gauge the popularity and public image of potential candidates. At the same time, the party has requested its allied parties, which are part of the ongoing joint movement, to provide lists of their prospective candidates for the polls.
“Our scrutiny of potential candidates is ongoing. We have asked for lists of potential candidates from our allies. We will sit on this issue soon and compile a primary list of aspirants to contest the national polls,” BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku told the Daily Sun.
He added that the final selection will be made by the BNP’s parliamentary board after the Election Commission announces the election schedule.
Tuku emphasised that the party wants to nominate candidates with a clean image and sufficient popularity to secure victory.
“We have yet to finalise seat-sharing with our allies, but we will give nominations to capable candidates who have acceptability among people in their respective constituencies and can win in the polls,” he added.
Another BNP leader said the party aims to announce potential candidates in around 200 constituencies next month to accelerate preparations for the election.
“BNP has asked allied parties who participated in the previous anti-fascist movement to provide lists of their potential candidates,” Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim told the Daily Sun.
He added that the BNP has also given the green light to many allied candidates to operate in different constituencies.
Following the BNP’s approval, several allied leaders are already working in their respective areas: Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Bobby Hajjaj in Dhaka-13, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha in Dhaka-17, Ganasanghati Andolan Chief Coordinator Junayed Saqi in Brahmanbaria-6, Jatiya Dal Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda in Kishorganj-5, and Shahadat Hossain Selim in Laxmipur-1.
Party sources said the BNP faces little uncertainty in 150 of the 300 constituencies, with candidates largely determined. However, the remaining 150 seats are under serious scrutiny, with roughly 50 expected to be allocated to allies. The party aims to finalise all candidacies, including those of its allies, within the next month.
At a BNP National Standing Committee meeting on Tuesday night, acting chairman Tarique Rahman was tasked with finalising the candidate list.
He has been supervising five surveys and is consulting divisional organisational secretaries, as well as district presidents and general secretaries, to assess potential candidates, according to party sources.
The process also involves gathering opinions from constituency-based candidates through responsible departmental leaders.
“Tarique Rahman will select the party candidates after considering everything,” a senior BNP leader said, speaking anonymously.
Party sources indicated that new candidates may be fielded in more than 100 of the remaining 150 seats.
Priority will be given to those who have actively participated in the pro-democracy struggle, especially the movement following 28 October 2023, and who have demonstrated honesty, a clean image, and local popularity.
Young candidates across the country are already active in election work, even though nominations have not yet been finalised.
The BNP has decided to launch a nationwide door-to-door campaign in mid-October to mobilise voter support, create a festive election atmosphere, and orient party leaders and activists towards election preparedness.
The campaign will be conducted at district, upazila, union, and ward levels through meetings, gatherings, and discussions, while “uthan boithok” (home-yard meetings) have already begun in several constituencies.
The party also plans to engage Islamist political parties, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Hefazat-e-Islam, as well as the National Citizen Party and Gana Odhikar Parishad, to explore electoral understandings and potential compromises before the polls.
The government has instructed the Election Commission to hold elections in February next year, and the EC is carrying out all necessary preparations.
BNP insiders said senior leaders have been meeting hundreds of nomination aspirants at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office since 20 September to minimise internal conflicts and settle all issues within the party ahead of the polls.
Tarique Rahman has instructed party leaders and activists to work for the collective success of the party, symbolised by the sheaf of paddy, rather than focusing on any individual leader.
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]
Edited by M Munir Hossain