'Nonpartisan organization' to handle dispute over BNP candidate list

The conflict that has developed within the BNP across the country over the list of candidates announced by the party ahead of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh has become more public in the past few days. As part of managing the situation, the position of those who have been nominated is being verified at the field level by an impartial organization, according to party sources.

Although no one has officially commented on the matter, party leaders have indicated that there may be some changes to the 'primary candidate list' announced after the screening process.

There have been incidents of violence over the BNP's nominations in at least two districts, resulting in loss of life. In addition, in many other districts, there have been incidents of processions, rallies, human chains, road blockades, or protests demanding changes to the announced nominations.

However, the party's central office department said that many of those involved in conflicts or violence have been expelled from the party.

Apart from this, there is also dissatisfaction within the party over keeping seats vacant for partners in various constituencies.

Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the party's national standing committee, however, said that the party has taken some initiatives and as a result, they hope that his party leaders will soon work for the party candidate in all constituencies in the country.

However, the impression gained from talking to some leaders who did not receive nominations from several areas and some district-level leaders is that these nomination-centered disputes may actually increase in the future.

There is a fear that new internal conflicts will arise in areas where BNP will support like-minded parties or candidates outside the party.

Incidentally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the initial list of candidates for 237 seats on November 3. Later, nominations for one seat were suspended.

The party then announced that the names of candidates for 63 seats would be announced later. Party sources said that most of these seats could be left to like-minded or allied parties.

Political analyst and Jahangirnagar University professor KM Mohiuddin says that the BNP itself did not follow the proper procedure in announcing the nominations, and he believes that the violence is happening because multiple candidates in each seat are desperate to come to power.

"The party has a rule to list candidates after the parliamentary board meets. But that didn't happen. Also, those who are not on the primary list are not willing to accept the party's decision because of their own politics. That is why there is conflict and violence and its manifestation can be seen in the elections as well," he said.

The rebellion began in Chittagong, later spread in many other districts

Immediately after the BNP announced its nomination, followers of the party's former joint secretary general Aslam Chowdhury blocked roads and railways in Chittagong. They burned tires at various places on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and protested, demanding that the party's nomination be given to Aslam Chowdhury.

After that, party workers and supporters began protesting against several of the party's nominees in different parts of the country, demanding changes to these nominations.

Meanwhile, the central BNP has expelled several local leaders from the party after one person was killed in a massive clash between two factions of the party in Mymensingh-3 (Gauripur) constituency on Sunday. On Monday, a person was shot dead in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila due to a conflict between two factions of the BNP.

Upazila and municipal BNP leaders and activists have taken a stand against the candidate nominated by BNP in Habiganj-4 constituency.

Upazila BNP President Md. Abdul Mannan has been nominated by BNP for Brahmanbaria-5 (Nabinagar) constituency. Earlier, in 2018, Kazi Nazmul Hossain was the BNP candidate there.

This time Nazmul Hossain did not get the nomination, and his followers held protests and human chain programs demanding a change in the nomination.

Abdus Salam Azad, one of the party's organizing secretaries, was seeking nomination from a seat in Munshiganj.

Former MP Mizanur Rahman Sinha has been nominated there. Several people were injured in clashes between the two parties after the party announced its nomination.

Even though BNP did not field a candidate in Dhaka-18 constituency, followers of BNP leader SM Jahangir have come to the discussion by holding a huge procession, thinking that Mahbubur Rahman Snigdha, brother of Mahfuzur Rahman Mugda, who was killed in the July Movement, may get the BNP nomination. Snigdha joined the BNP a few days ago.

Feni District BNP Member Secretary Alal Uddin Alal has come into the discussion by requesting a 'review' in a cricketing style to change the candidate for Feni-2 constituency.

Apart from this, candidates on the BNP primary list are facing challenges from within the party in many constituencies in various districts including Satkhira, Bhola, Kurigram, Rajshahi, and Shariatpur.

BNP National Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said they believe the reaction after the announcement of the party's list of candidates is normal for a major political party.

"We are resolving whatever has happened since then as a party. I hope that very soon everyone in every area will unite and start working to make the party candidate win," he told reporters.

The position of the nominees is being verified.

While announcing the party's nominations for the elections, the BNP Secretary General had said that there could be changes to that list as well. Since then, some seats have come under special discussion due to the reaction of activists and supporters in different parts of the country.

Multiple party sources said that out of the 236 candidates who have been nominated, except for those who have no questions, the status of the nominated candidates in the remaining seats is being verified by an independent organization.

Party leaders said that BNP had conducted multiple area-based surveys before finalizing the candidate list.

But even then, candidates for several seats have come into discussion for various reasons. BNP leaders there said that the BNP's nominated candidate for one seat in Noakhali had previously been a candidate from Jamaat-e-Islami in the local government elections. There is a discussion within the BNP that the candidate for that seat may be changed.

In addition, former MP Joynal Abdin was nominated for the Feni-2 constituency, but district leaders said he was a newcomer due to his age.

Other constituencies where the possibility of changing candidates is being discussed among activists and supporters include Habiganj-4 and Natore-1. The candidate in Habiganj is suffering from old age-related problems, and district-level leaders are talking about the possibility of changing the candidate to end the sibling dispute in Natore-1.

It is being claimed from within the party that two candidates from Kushtia and Barisal are also suffering from age-related illnesses. It is also learnt that although the party has reserved a seat in Dhaka for a leader of a like-minded party of the BNP, he is no longer willing to contest from Dhaka as he will have to contest under his own party symbol.

Again, the BNP has already announced the name of its party candidate for the seat in the leader's district. Before that, there was a massive clash between the two parties there.

Political analyst KM Mohiuddin says that everyone knows that Awami League will not be in the elections and that is why BNP nomination hopefuls have become quite desperate, thinking that the party is sure to come to power.

"There will be intense competition within the party. The partner party will also have to give up its seats. Then the crisis will increase further. Conflicts and violence may increase within the party. There is a risk of violence in the elections as well due to these," Ahmed told reporters.