Rebels haunt BNP in four dozen seats

BNP-nominated candidates are facing strong competition from rebel party candidates in around four dozen constituencies, according to the party’s internal findings.

Party insiders said rebel candidates have become increasingly active, with grassroots leaders openly engaging with them. These candidates enjoy strong local support and benefit from their geographical roots in the constituencies they are contesting.

Over the past ten days, BNP internal teams have gathered updates from grassroots units across all 300 seats, closely tracking the growing influence of rebel candidates.

For instance, in Munshiganj-3, BNP nominee Quamruzzaman Ratan is facing a tough contest against expelled rebel candidate Md Mohiuddin.

After the party expelled around a dozen leaders for engaging with rebels in these constituencies, over 100 grassroots leaders resigned from their posts to back Mohiuddin.

In Bagerhat-1 and Bagerhat-2, former lawmaker and BNP rebel candidate MAH Selim is contesting against party-nominated candidates, posing strong challenges.

In Cumilla-2, BNP nominee Selim Bhuiyan is locked in a tough race with expelled rebel Abdul Motin Khan, a former APS-2 to the late Khaleda Zia.

In Mymensingh-10, BNP candidate Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu is competing closely with Abu Bakar Siddiqur Rahman, with the contest expected to be a close one.

In Sunamganj-3, BNP nominee Kaisar Ahmed is contesting against independent candidate Anwar Hossain, a former district BNP vice-president. In Sunamganj-4, BNP candidate Nurul Islam is facing Dewan Zainul Zakerin, another former district BNP vice-president.

Rebel candidates are in strong positions in several constituencies, including Narayanganj-2 and 3, Tangail-3 and 5, Munshiganj-1, Manikganj-1, Madaripur-1, Gopalganj-2, Rajbari-2, Kishoreganj-1, Dinajpur-2 and 5, Naogaon-1, 3 and 6, Pabna-3, Mymensingh-2, 6, 7 and 9, Chattogram-16, Khagrachhari, Noakhali-2, Chandpur-4, Brahmanbaria-5, Barishal-1, Narail-1, Jhenaidah-4, Satkhira-3, Jashore-5, Sylhet-5, Habiganj-1, Panchagarh-2 and Rangpur-3.

Despite repeated warnings, negotiations and expulsions, rebel candidates remain in the race in more than five dozen constituencies.

Even after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman intervened and the party expelled over 200 grassroots leaders supporting rebel candidates, the measures have had little impact.

Earlier, BNP expelled 72 rebel candidates for defying party instructions to contest the polls, though around a dozen later withdrew.

Rebel candidates are also causing discomfort for BNP’s allies, particularly in seats where the party has not fielded its own nominees.

In Brahmanbaria-2, the BNP allocated the seat to Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh. However, expelled BNP leader Rummeen Farhana is contesting from the seat independently.

In Dhaka-12, the BNP left the seat for Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque. Former convener of the Dhaka North City BNP unit, Saiful Alam Nirab, was expelled and is contesting the polls.

In Patuakhali-3, BNP leader Hasan Mamun is contesting despite the party’s decision to leave the seat for Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur.

In Jhenaidah-4, Rashed Khan, who recently joined the BNP after resigning from his post as secretary of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, is facing an expelled BNP leader.

Political analysts say the situation reflects the party’s failure to adequately consider grassroots opinions during the nomination process, resulting in qualified candidates being overlooked and exposing weaknesses in the BNP’s organisational structure.

Talking to The Daily Star, Prof Mojibur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research said BNP is facing difficulties because grassroots views were overlooked while selecting candidates.

“In some areas, qualified candidates were denied nominations,” he said.

“If the vote is split between the two groups of BNP, others might benefit in some cases,” he added.

Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman of Jahangirnagar University’s government and politics department said the crisis highlights weak central control over grassroots leaders.

“Because proper nomination procedures were not followed, many leaders are contesting as rebels,” he said.

He added that if rebel candidates win a significant number of seats, the party may later reintegrate them to avoid complications in government formation, as seen in the past.