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Published : 21 Jan 2026, 02:57 AM
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) efforts to enforce discipline have failed to stop a potentially self-defeating internal challenge in the general election.
Despite expulsions, back-channel talks and repeated warnings from the top leadership, around 87 grassroots leaders have refused to step aside, remaining in the race as independent candidates in at least 76 constituencies.
The figure, equivalent to nearly one-quarter of all parliamentary seats, emerged from an analysis of Election Commission data on Tuesday, the final day for withdrawal of nominations. The commission is due to allocate election symbols to candidates on Wednesday.
Those still contesting include former MPs, ex-central committee leaders, district-level figures and senior leaders from BNP’s associate and affiliated bodies, underlining the scale of the internal challenge confronting the party.
DEFIANCE ACROSS DISTRICTS
Earlier, BNP leaders had filed nominations in 118 constituencies across 63 districts, excluding Dhaka, against officially nominated party candidates. In total, around 179 BNP figures initially entered the race outside the party line.
The BNP’s central committee subsequently launched an intensive effort to rein in dissidents. It held meetings, issued appeals and delivered a clear ultimatum: withdraw or face expulsion.
Chairperson Tarique Rahman personally spoke to several candidates from Dhaka, prompting some withdrawals. In many districts, local negotiations also succeeded in persuading contenders to step aside. In some constituencies, “backup” candidates who had filed as an insurance policy later withdrew once disputes were settled.
As a result, roughly half of the rebel aspirants withdrew. Yet even after this effort, BNP still faces independent candidates in nearly a quarter of all seats.
BAGERHAT STANDS OUT
The southern district of Bagerhat has emerged as a striking example. All four constituencies there still have BNP rebel candidates.
Former BNP district president and ex-MP MAH Selim is himself standing in the election from three seats simultaneously.
Asked why he had defied party instructions, Selim said the official BNP nominees in the district were unelectable.
“If I could, I would contest all four seats,” he said. “But constitutional limits allow me only three. I was an MP before. I want to reclaim these seats for BNP.”
Selim insisted he was not acting against the party. “I am BNP. I am not an outsider. In my campaign I will speak only of BNP, Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.”
He added a further justification: “If I do not contest, these seats will go to Jamaat-e-Islami. I cannot accept that.”
In contrast, Selim’s brother MA Salam, also a former BNP district president, withdrew his nomination from Bagerhat-2.
In several districts, including Panchagarh, Shariatpur, Cox’s Bazar, Lakshmipur, Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Lalmonirhat, Bhola, Sirajganj, Chuadanga, Khulna, Satkhira, Feni, Pirojpur, Narsingdi, Rangamati and Bandarban, no BNP leader defied party instructions.
Elsewhere, resistance remained strong.
Noakhali-6 and Narail-1 each have three rebel BNP candidates.
Two renegades remain in constituencies such as Dinajpur-5, Rajshahi-5, Natore-1, Bagerhat-1, Narayanganj-3 and 4, Gopalganj-2, Madaripur-1, Brahmanbaria-1 and 2.
In Sunamganj, BNP initially nominated two candidates in each of its five seats. One withdrew in each case, though two constituencies still have rebel contenders.
An unusual situation arose in the three constituencies where nominations were filed in the name of Khaleda Zia. Following her death on Dec 30, the designated alternative candidates automatically became the party nominees, eliminating any internal contest.
In Chattogram-6, both Giasuddin Kader Chowdhury and Khandaker Golam Akbar were initially nominated. Eventually, Chowdhury received the party’s ticket.
In Netrakona-4, former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar filed his nomination, while his wife Tahmina Zaman Sraboni also entered as an independent before withdrawing later on.
PARTY LINE: ‘THERE ARE NO REBELS’
BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has taken a hard line publicly, insisting that the party recognises only those carrying its official symbol.
“There are no ‘rebel candidates’ in BNP,” Rizvi said on Tuesday night. “Whoever gets the Sheaf of Paddy symbol is the BNP candidate.”
Privately, however, senior leaders acknowledge that discipline will be enforced.
A BNP Standing Committee member said, “If anyone remains a party member while running against the party decision, the party will certainly take strict action. Several expulsions have already taken place.”
The scale of BNP’s internal dissent is unfolding in an election unlike any in recent history.
The Awami League, ousted in last year’s mass uprising, is barred from political activity and its registration remains suspended.
It means this is the first election since February 1996 without one of Bangladesh’s oldest parties on the ballot.
Two partners of the Awami League-led 14-Party Alliance, JaSaD and the Workers Party, have announced a boycott.
With BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, Jatiya Party and most other smaller parties in the fray, the Election Commission is pleased, noting that the campaign environment remains peaceful.
WHAT ‘REBELS’ ARE SAYING
In Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar), Advocate Qumruzzaman Mamun, a vice-president of the district BNP, has entered the race as an independent after being denied the party ticket.
Despite pressure from district leaders to withdraw in line with party instructions, Qumruzzaman has stayed in the contest, citing strong backing from grassroots activists.
“Even if the party expels me, I am not alone. Everyone is with me,” he said on Tuesday evening.
“The party has nominated the wrong person. That is why I am being forced to contest.”
He said he was confident of winning “by a huge margin”.
In Noakhali-6 (Hatia), the rebellion is deeper still, with three BNP figures running against the party nominee: Tanvir Uddin Rajib, former general secretary of Hatia Upazila BNP and a member of the district convenor committee; Fazlul Azim, a former upazila BNP president and ex-MP; and Shamima Azim, Fazlul’s wife.
Tanvir said he entered the race under pressure from grassroots supporters.
“I have been with BNP activists at the grassroots for a long time. I became a candidate because of their emotion and love,” he said.
He accused the party of imposing an outsider.
“The nominee is not even a resident of Hatia. An outsider has been forced on us, ignoring the feelings of party activists,” he said.
“BNP members are not ready to accept someone who was absent during our hardest times.”
Similar grievances have surfaced in Dinajpur-5, where AZM Rezwanul Haque, another independent candidate, said he was driven to rebel after being overlooked.
“I am a long-standing, tested BNP activist. I defended the party through repression and persecution,” he said.
“The high command has done me an injustice by choosing a London-based expatriate with no roots or contribution here.”
Rezwanul said his candidacy was backed by “people from all walks of life”, adding: “I believe voters will elect me with a decisive majority.”
Election timetable
Dec 29: Deadline for nomination submission
Dec 30-Jan 4: Scrutiny of nominations
Jan 5-9: Appeals filed
Jan 10-18: Disposal of appeals
Symbol allocation: Wednesday
Polling day: Feb 12, alongside a referendum
