BNP walking a tightrope between rebels and allies

Despite hectic negotiations, repeated warnings, and expulsions, BNP has failed to persuade its rebel candidates to withdraw from the election race, triggering frustration and anger among its partners.

BNP has allocated 14 seats to its allies, who had earlier joined hands with the party in a simultaneous movement against the fascist regime. However, in 10 of those seats, BNP rebel candidates remain in the race.

Not only that, but more than five dozen BNP rebel candidates are still contesting, weakening the prospects of the party’s own nominated candidates, party leaders said.

The deadline for withdrawing nominations expired on Tuesday. Since then, BNP has said it would try to convince rebel candidates to support alliance nominees and has verbally instructed its grassroots leaders to extend full support to party-backed candidates.

Partners said the failure to rein in rebel candidates has exposed internal weaknesses in BNP’s election management and strained relations with alliance partners at a critical stage of the campaign.

A partner said, “We believed that after Tarique Rahman’s intervention, the rebels would quit the race, but that did not happen. We did not expect this. BNP has failed to honour its seat-sharing commitment.”

Developments on the ground suggest little progress.

In Dhaka-12, BNP did not field any candidate, as the seat was allocated to Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque. Yet, expelled BNP leader Saiful Alam Nirab is contesting as a rebel candidate.

“Even after being expelled, BNP rebel candidates are campaigning using the names of BNP leaders, which is wrong and unlawful. BNP did not show foresight in handling rebel candidates,” Saiful Haque said.

In Bogura-2, BNP had earlier announced that the seat would go to Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna. Later, citing complications with nominations, the party nominated its own leader as an alternative candidate. Eventually, the BNP nominee did not withdraw.

“BNP announced Bogura-2 for me, then nominated another leader as an alternative. Later, my nomination was declared valid, but the BNP candidate kept creating problems. Now I really do not know what more there is to say,” Manna said.

In Narail-2, Fariduzzaman Farhad, chairman of the National People’s Party, dissolved his party and joined BNP to contest the seat. However, BNP rebel candidate Monirul Islam did not withdraw.

“The party should have handled these issues earlier, but they didn’t,” Farhad told this newspaper.

Several alliance partners echoed similar frustration. 

Talking to this newspaper, they said BNP had betrayed them, provided no grassroots support, and failed to ensure coordination during the campaign.

BNP has given four seats to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh -- Sylhet-5, Narayanganj-4, Brahmanbaria-2, and Nilphamari-1. Three of those constituencies have BNP rebel candidates.

Jamiat Secretary General Manjurul Islam Afendi said, “The BNP gave us four seats, and three of those have rebel candidates. This is embarrassing, uncomfortable and painful for us,” he said.

“BNP should not have thought its responsibility was finished just by expelling the rebels. The party should have called them, explained the situation, and tried to solve the problem through discussion, but it did not do that,” he added.

In Sylhet-5, Jamiat candidate Md Ubaidullah Faruq is contesting, while Sylhet district BNP Vice-President Mamunur Rashid remains in the race as a rebel.

In Narayanganj-4, two expelled BNP leaders -- Shah Alam and Giasuddin -- are contesting as rebels, even though BNP kept the seat vacant for Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi.

In Brahmanbaria-2, Jamiat leader Junayed Al Habib is contesting, while BNP rebel candidate Rummen Farhana has also stayed in the race.

BNP allocated two seats to Gono Adhikar Parishad, with its president Nurul Haq contesting on his party’s symbol and former general secretary Rashed Khan joining the BNP to contest as its nominee. Both seats have rebel BNP candidates.

In Patuakhali-3, despite the seat being allocated to Nurul Haq, BNP leader Hasan Mamun is contesting as a rebel.

In Jhenaidah-4, BNP rebel Saiful Islam Firoz remains in the race against BNP nominee Rashed Khan.

“The BNP should fix the matter through discussion,” Rashed Khan said.

In Kishoreganj-5, BNP nominated Syed Ehsanul Huda, chief of Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, who dissolved his party to join the BNP, is facing rebel candidate Mujibur Rahman Iqbal.

“This is very disappointing,” Huda said.

In Cumilla-7, Redwan Ahmed resigned from the Liberal Democratic Party to join BNP, but upazila BNP president Atikul Islam is contesting as a rebel.

Four seats have no rebel candidates: Bhola-1 (Andaleeve Rahman Partho), Brahmanbaria-6 (Zonayed Saki), Laxmipur-1 (Shahadat Hossain Salim), and Nilphamari-1 (Manjurul Islam Afendi).

BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin said the time for withdrawing nominations was over.

“Now, our election steering committee and BNP’s top leadership will hold discussions with them. Even after that, if anyone remains in the race, organisational action will be taken,” he said.

BNP has already expelled more than a dozen leaders for contesting the polls in defiance of party instructions.