The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) decided not to release its final list of parliamentary candidates until the Election Commission (EC) announces the national election schedule, expected in December.
Senior party leaders said the move is aimed at avoiding internal disputes among aspirants and maintaining organizational unity ahead of the polls.
The party has, however, nearly completed its preliminary list of single candidates for each constituency after weeks of scrutiny and grassroots feedback.
A member of the BNP Standing Committee confirmed that the nomination process is in its final stages.
“The final list will be announced only after the EC releases the schedule. Until then, we are monitoring political developments, alliance coordination, and possible seat adjustments,” the leader said.
Party insiders said Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has already spoken with several potential candidates, giving them the go-ahead to begin preparations in their constituencies.
He has instructed them to strengthen coordination with local leaders and increase direct communication with voters.
Under Tarique’s supervision, the party’s central election management cell is gathering field-level data on candidate popularity, voter sentiment, and alliance dynamics to finalize recommendations before the list is made public.
BNP is prioritizing “qualified and acceptable” candidates—those active in past movements, with strong public standing and the financial capacity to run campaigns.
In Bogura, the birthplace of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Tarique has personally cleared four candidates: former MP Kazi Rafiqul Islam (Bogura-1), Adamdighi Upazila BNP President Abdul Muhit Talukder (Bogura-3), Acting District BNP General Secretary Mosharraf Hossain (Bogura-4), and former MP GM Siraj (Bogura-5).
The remaining three constituencies are expected to feature members of the Zia family and BNP allies, including Khaleda Zia or a family member in Bogura-6, Tarique Rahman in Bogura-7, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagorik Oikya in Bogura-2.
Mosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “The leader personally called and told me to prepare for Bogura-4. He asked us to work together with everyone for the upcoming election.”
A central organizing secretary, requesting anonymity, said the party’s priority is to preserve unity.
“That’s why we are not revealing the final list until the schedule is announced. Once it is, we will review the political situation, alliance coordination, and overall environment before publishing the final list,” he said.
BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said: “Our preparations for the election are underway. The party’s nomination board will make the final decision on candidate selection.”
50 seats for allies
BNP also plans to allocate up to 50 parliamentary seats for its political allies—parties that joined its simultaneous anti-government movement and the Nationalist Coordination Platform.
Tarique Rahman and senior leaders have already held meetings with partners including the 12-Party Alliance, Nationalist like-minded Alliance, Democracy Platform, and Democratic Left Unity.
In the 2018 election, BNP left 59 seats for allies.
This time, the number is expected to be reduced to around 50, with the party prioritizing strong and winnable candidates over symbolic allocations to weaker partners.
Rashed Khan, General Secretary of Gana Odhikar Parishad, said: “We have been fighting alongside BNP for a long time against fascism. BNP has always said that if it returns to power, it will form a government with everyone. From that perspective, we are hopeful about forming an electoral alliance with them.”
He added that while BNP has given the green signal to some of its own candidates, his party has not yet received any formal indication.
