Bangladesh News

BNP is revving up for the parliamentary polls now that its chairperson has formally announced the four-party alliance would join the election if it is held on December 28.

Its high-command has already prepared a list of prospective candidates for around 200 constituencies excluding those in Dhaka city. Many former lawmakers who sided with the pro-reform faction have been dropped off the list, said party sources.

Speaking in return for anonymity, a BNP leader told The Daily Star that they would ask the grassroots level leaders to send their panels of candidates as soon as the election date is settled.

In picking candidates, its parliamentary board will however emphasise the survey reports prepared by its special teams, former student leaders and professional surveyors.

The party will give its nomination hopefuls three to four days to collect and submit nomination forms, he added.

BNP has also identified some 50 seats that it thinks would be suitable for its allies including Jamaat-e-Islami.

Sources said Chairperson Khaleda Zia has collected a list of possible candidates for the constituencies in the capital from Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, former president of Dhaka city BNP.

But the leadership could not take any decision regarding some of the seats considered problematic.

All this came up for discussions at a high-profile meeting at Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office Thursday night.

After settling on its candidates, BNP will discuss seat sharing with its allies.

Jamaat-e-Islami, the second largest component in the coalition, too has prepared a list of its prospective candidates.

A BNP leader speaking anonymously said the party high-ups have prepared a list of some almost confirmed candidates who would soon be instructed to start preparing for electioneering.

BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday told reporters, “We were all prepared for the January 22 election. Now there might be some changes in the nominee list for that election.”

Like its archrival Awami League, BNP would drop controversial leaders from its ticket and as a result many fresh faces would be given the nod, according to party sources.

The party leadership is considering names of some former bureaucrats as well as leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) for nomination, said insiders.

Still, many JCD leaders fear that they might be deprived of nomination due to absence of Tarique Rahman, elder son of Khaleda Zia.