Ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its prospective candidates for 237 constituencies. Several of the remaining seats are expected to be allocated to alliance partners, while others will see nominations confirmed later based on party decisions.
An analysis of the announced list shows that out of the 237 constituencies, 83 have been allocated to entirely new faces—individuals with no prior experience in national elections. These newcomers include former student leaders, physicians, lawyers, expatriates, children of deceased BNP leaders, and several long-time grassroots organizers. Among them, at least 10 candidates are children of former Members of Parliament, while two others are spouses of former MPs. By nominating these individuals, the party aims both to maintain continuity and consolidate sympathy votes. Many grassroots leaders who have worked locally for years have also received nominations for the first time, signaling the party’s emphasis on organizational strength.
Notably, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman is also on the list. He will contest the Bogura-6 seat in what will be his first electoral battle.
Party sources indicate that the selection of new candidates was based on their grassroots work, social acceptance, and organizational strength within their constituencies. Analysts describe this move as part of BNP’s strategy to bring forward a younger and more professional generation of leaders.
Meanwhile, 151 candidates on the list have prior electoral experience. A significant number of them contested the 2018 11th parliamentary elections under the party’s “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol. Many of these experienced nominees hold strong local organizational positions and are considered reliable within the party. Numerous among them have been elected MPs multiple times. Key figures include BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed—many of whom previously served in BNP-led governments.
Among the party’s vice chairmen and advisory council members, several—including Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Mohammad Shahjahan, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad, Aman Ullah Aman, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Zainul Abedin Faruk, Zahir Uddin Swapon, Lutfuzzaman Babar, Habibur Rahman Habib, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Abdus Salam Pintu, Fazlur Rahman, Joint Secretary Khairul Kabir Khokon, and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie—have also been elected MPs in the past.
Party strategists say the list reflects a conscious effort to balance experience with youth, talent, and professional expertise—creating an “old-and-new equilibrium.” Many observers see BNP’s approach as an “image rebranding” strategy for the upcoming elections, aimed at combining past political experience with the dynamism of a younger generation.
Shamsuddin Didar, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Press Wing, said: “Through this nomination list, BNP has coordinated the leadership of a new generation alongside experienced leaders. This is a positive step, reflecting both the diversity of the party’s leadership and broader public participation.”
Among the notable new nominees are former JCD president Kazi Rawnakul Islam Shraban; Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayan; Swechchhasebok Dal president Rajib Ahsan; Maayer Daak Coordinator Sanjida Tuli; former national footballer Aminul Haque; and Ishraq Hossain, son of former Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka.
The list also includes Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, son of former state aviation minister Mir Naser, and Hummam Qader Chowdhury, son of former minister Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury.
Other first-time BNP nominees include AHM Mohammad Saifullah Rubel for Nilphamari-2; Mokarram Hossain Sujon for Rangpur-1; Shamsuzzaman Shamu for Rangpur-3; Mohammad Sohel Hossain Kaykobad for Kurigram-2; Anisuzzaman Khan Babu for Gaibandha-2; Mohammad Faruk Alam Sarker for Gaibandha-4; Mohammad Masud Rana Pradhan for Joypurhat-1; former Secretary Abdul Bari for Joypurhat-2; Mohammad Abdul Gafur Sarker for Nilphamari-4; Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman for Naogaon-1; Fazle Huda Babul for Naogaon-3; Ekramul Bari Tipu for Naogaon-4; Sheikh Mohammad Rezaul Islam for Naogaon-6; Mohammad Sharif Uddin for Rajshahi-1; DMD Ziaur Rahman for Rajshahi-4; and Professor Nazrul Islam for Rajshahi-5.
Additional new nominees include Farzana Sharmin for Natore-1; SM Akbar Ali for Sirajganj-4; Ainul Haque for Sirajganj-3; Mohammad Hasan Zafir Tuhin for Pabna-3; Mohammad Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas for Pabna-5; Ragib Rauf Chowdhury for Kushtia-2; Mohammad Mehedi Hasan for Jhenaidah-3; Mohammad Sabira Sultana for Jessore-2; Monirul Hasan Bappy for Khulna-6; Abdur Rauf for Satkhira-2; Md Moniruzzaman for Satkhira-4; Nazrul Islam Molla for Barguna-1; Ahmed Sohel Monzur for Pirojpur-2; ASM Obaidul Haque Nasir for Tangail-3; Mohammad Lutfur Rahman Matin for Tangail-4; Robiul Auwal Lablu for Tangail-6; Ahmed Azam Khan for Tangail-8; Syed Imran Saleh for Mymensingh-1; Motahar Hossain Talukdar for Mymensingh-2; Md Akhtarul Alam for Mymensingh-6; Lutfullah Majed for Mymensingh-8; and Yaser Khan Chowdhury for Mymensingh-9.
Advocate Md Jalal Uddin for Kishoreganj-2; Sheikh Md Abdullah for Munshiganj-1; Tanvir Ahmed Robin for Dhaka-4; Md Shafiqul Islam Khan for Dhaka-15; M Manjurul Karim Roni for Gazipur-2; Professor SM Rafiqul Islam Bacchu for Gazipur-3; Mostafizur Rahman Vuiya Dipu for Narayanganj-1; Nazrul Islam Azad for Narayanganj-2; Md Azharul Islam Mannan for Narayanganj-3; Md Masuduzzaman for Narayanganj-5; Nayab Yusuf Ahmed for Faridpur-3; Shahidul Islam Babul for Faridpur-4; Md Selimuzzaman Molla for Gopalganj-1; Dr KM Babar Ali for Gopalganj-2; Kamal Zaman Molla for Madaripur-1; Saeed Ahmed Aslam for Shariatpur-1; Mohammad Koyeshar Ahmed for Sunamganj-3; Kalim Uddin Milan for Sunamganj-5; Tahsina Rushdi for Sylhet-2; Mohammad Abdul Malik for Sylhet-3; Imran Ahmed Chowdhury for Sylhet-6; Soukat Hossain Soku for Moulvibazar-2; Abu Monsur Sakhawat Hasan Jibon for Habiganj-2; SM Faisal for Habiganj-4; SA Hannan for Brahmanbaria-1; Mushfiqur Rahman for Brahmanbaria-4; Md Abdul Mannan for Brahmanbaria-5; Anisul Haque for Sunamganj-1; Md Josim Uddin for Comilla-5; Mohammad Kamrul Huda for Comilla-11; Mohammad Fakhrul Islam for Noakhali-5; Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Shamim for Noakhali-6; Abdul Auwal Mintu for Feni-3; Sarwar Alamgir for Chattogram-2; Kazi Salauddin for Chattogram-4; Hummam Qader Chowdhury for Chattogram-7; Ershad Ullah for Chattogram-8; and Mishkatul Islam Chowdhury Pappa for Chattogram-16 are also among the new nominees.
