BNP yet to firm up candidates, Jamaat done

Jamaat-e-Islami has pulled a significant lead in selecting candidates for the upcoming polls while its now rival and former ally, the BNP, seemed to be bogged down with issues related to seat sharing with allies and July charter reforms.

With the Election Commission expected to announce the poll schedule within a month, the BNP has yet to finalise its candidates, causing frustration among grassroots leaders and activists, party insiders said.

Jamaat, by contrast, has already completed its nomination process, launched constituency-level preparations, and fielded numerous first-time candidates, gaining what many within the party call a strategic edge.

Once members of the same coalition government, the BNP and Jamaat are now mired in a deepening rift over the timing of a referendum on reforms.

Jamaat insists the referendum be held this month, while the BNP says it must be held on the same day as the election, slated for February.

The BNP wants the proportional representation system in a proposed upper house on the basis of shares of seats in the lower house.

The Jamaat, on the other hand, has launched protests demanding that shares of total vote obtained by each party, not seats, form the basis of the upper house.

The longer the party delays the announcement, the more misunderstandings will grow, and complications will be created. At some point, this may lead to disorder among party members.

— SA Jinnah Kabir, ex-general secretary of Manikganj district BNP

FRUSTRATION GROWING IN BNP

The delay in selecting candidates has visibly slowed the BNP's campaign and stirred resentment among nomination seekers, many of whom note that Jamaat candidates have been canvassing for months.

BNP's indecision over seat-sharing with allies and its stance on the July charter are key reasons for the delay, political analysts say.

Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, a former government and politics teacher at Jahangirnagar University, said the BNP might not be announcing its candidates formally for strategic reasons.

"It is still in discussion over seat sharing with its allies. Besides, it has also been stuck with the July charter issues," he pointed out.

Interviews with more than three dozen grassroots BNP leaders suggest fears of internal rifts and rebel candidacies if the process drags further.

"The longer the party delays the announcement, the more misunderstandings will grow, and complications will be created. At some point, this may lead to disorder among party members," said SA Jinnah Kabir, a former general secretary of Manikganj district BNP.

A nomination seeker from Satkhira-2, requesting anonymity, noted Jamaat's six-month head start while in some constituencies, there are multiple BNP candidates still now. "The delay is widening the distance among these candidates," he said.

On October 24, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party would finalise its candidates for around 200 constituencies within October. The time has passed but there has been no announcement yet.

Senior BNP leaders privately admit seat-sharing is proving difficult, especially where allies lack strong bases. Another Standing Committee member said the party is prioritising seats where allies "have realistic chances", complicating decisions.

Internal rivalries and multiple strong contenders in nearly 100 constituencies have further slowed the process.

The party has already conducted a three-phase shortlisting, including surveys by acting chairman Tarique Rahman's team, nationwide meetings with aspirants, and collection of personal documents.

Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said, "I hope that by the middle of November, the BNP will officially announce the names. Since ours is a large political party, it is selecting its candidates by considering many equations and challenges. So, there is no reason for the leaders and activists to be disappointed."

Despite delays, sources say the BNP believes it can catch up. Some party leaders claimed Jamaat candidates are "spreading propaganda" against the BNP, prompting the party to consider counter-strategies.

Several potential nominees said Tarique has personally phoned them, encouraging quiet preparation until the names are announced.

"The process is being kept confidential, and top leaders have reportedly directed that this information must not be shared with rival nomination seekers until the official election schedule is announced," said a BNP leader who claimed to have received the call.

A BNP Standing Committee member, seeking anonymity, said the party has almost finalised the list of candidates for around 200 constituencies. A large portion of them contested the 2018 election.

"The list is now being thoroughly reviewed in line with the party's requirements. The final list will be formally published after getting the Standing Committee's approval."

Leaders said that beyond the 200 constituencies already under consideration, the BNP is struggling to finalise candidates in 60 to 70 seats due to internal conflicts and the presence of multiple strong contenders.

Seven alliance partners have separately sought 106 seats from the BNP to contest the upcoming election.

The BNP is also considering forming a "broader alliance" with the aim of establishing a national government that would include more than 50 parties, which took part in anti-government protests with the BNP simultaneously during the Awami League's regime.

JAMAAT'S EARLY MARCH

Contacted for comments, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told The Daily Star the party has "primarily selected candidates for all 300 constituencies" and will confirm the final slate after the schedule is unveiled.

Around 80 percent of Jamaat's picks are new faces who have never contested an election before, while about 60 have experience in running for public offices.

Many were chosen through votes of upazila- and district-level leaders and the central nomination board.

"Given the changed political context and people's expectations, the party has decided to bring forward young leadership," Porwar said.

"There are many young voters … Our new candidates are working for Bangladesh, and the young generation will surely want such candidates," he said.

The Jamaat has also set up polling centre-level committees and recruited polling agents nationwide.

At least 16 candidates are former presidents of Islami Chhatra Shibir, including Dhaka South Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud.

Porwar said Islamist parties are discussing an "understanding" for seat adjustments, adding, "Once the electoral understanding or alliance is finalised, candidates will be withdrawn from some constituencies."

Jamaat last saw major electoral success in the fifth (1991) and eighth (2001) parliamentary polls, winning 18 and 17 seats respectively. Ahead of the 2026 election, it is again seeking to lead an Islamist alliance with Islami Andolan Bangladesh and others.