Seven constituencies: BNP fields new faces against Jamaat heavyweights

Key Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are likely to gain an edge in over a half a dozen constituencies, as the BNP has fielded new or relatively less strong nominees and faces internal feuds.

Moreover, BNP has yet to choose candidates in seven seats where experienced Jamaat leaders are confirmed or expected to run.

In seven constituencies, BNP has nominated fresh faces with little or no prior electoral experience, where most Jamaat candidates are senior figures or family members of the party's top leaders, with long-standing local networks and loyal voter bases.

On Monday, the BNP unveiled its list of 237 potential nominees, leaving 63 seats vacant for further discussion or alliance adjustments.

The following day, the party cancelled the nomination of Kamal Zaman Mollah for Madaripur-1.

A Standing Committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday, "We have chosen those we believe to be strong candidates. Several of the vacant seats may be shared with our alliance partners."

NEW FACES

At least seven first-time BNP nominees will take on experienced Jamaat leaders.

Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman is expected to contest from Dhaka-15. In 2018, he ran from the same seat under the BNP-led alliance. This time, the BNP has chosen Jubo Dal leader Shafiqul Milton, a first-time nominee.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher is likely to run from Cumilla-11. Taher fought the race from this seat in the 9th and 11th national polls, and he was twice elected MP from Cumilla-12 in earlier polls.

BNP's Kamrul Huda, joint general secretary of Cumilla south district BNP and president of Chauddagram upazila unit of the party, is a first-time candidate in Cumilla-11.

In Khulna-5, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, a former lawmaker, is likely to contest in the polls. He ran from there in 1991, 2008, and 2018 and won in 2001 general elections.

The BNP last time nominated its candidate in this seat in 1996 national election. But after the formation of the BNP-led four-party alliance ahead of the 2001 polls, Khulna-5 seat was allotted to Jamaat.

The BNP has chosen Ali Asgar (Lobi) in this seat. He did not run there before.

Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, son of former Jamaat central executive committee member Mir Quasem Ali, is likely to contest from Dhaka-14 against BNP nominee Sanjida Islam Tuli. Both are new faces.

Shamim Sayeedi, son of Jamaat leader and former lawmaker Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, is likely to run from Pirojpur-2, where the BNP has chosen Sohel Manjur, president of Bhandaria upazila unit BNP and son of former BNP lawmaker Nurul IslamManjur. The two are also fresh nominees.

In Satkhira-2, a Jamaat stronghold, Jamaat leader Muhaddis Abdul Khaleq, who ran in 2018 polls under the BNP-led alliance, may face BNP's first-time nominee Abdur Rauf.

In Dinajpur-6, another first-time nominee, BNP Standing Committee member Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, is likely to run against Jamaat candidate Anwarul Islam, former district ameer of the party. Anwarul has the experience of contesting polls.

VACANT SEATS

Jamaat has chosen its nominees in at least seven constituencies where the BNP is yet to announce its candidates, as the party struggles to finalise nominations or prepares to leave them for its alliance partners.

In Thakurgaon-2, Abdul Hakim, Jamaat's candidate in every election since 1991, is likely to run this time too.

The BNP has not yet announced any candidate for the seat. Mirza Faisal Amin, younger brother of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and Abdus Salam, former DAB secretary general, are both seeking nomination from there.

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, who contested from Cox's Bazar-2 in the 9th and 11th national elections, is likely to run again. Nazibur Rahman, son of former Jamaat ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, is expected to contest from Pabna-1; Dhaka South Jamaat Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud from Patuakhali-2; Masood Sayeedi, son of Jamaat leader and former lawmaker Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, from Pirojpur-1; lawyer and former Shibir leader Shishir Monir from Sunamganj-2; and Jamaat leader Shahjahan Chowdhury from Chattogram-15.

The BNP has not nominated candidates in the seats.