Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has released the names of candidates for 237 out of the 300 constituencies in anticipation of the 13th parliamentary elections. The announcement was made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office in the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is set to contest in three constituencies: Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7, and Feni-1. Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will vie for the Bogura-6 seat, with Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also confirming his candidacy from Thakurgaon-1.
The announcement left 63 constituencies without named candidates. Mirza Fakhrul indicated that these will be finalized following discussions with coalition allies. He stated, “We will finalize the candidates for the remaining seats through discussions with allies who were with the BNP in the anti-fascist movement.”
Mirza Fakhrul also noted that the announced list is subject to change, emphasizing the role of the BNP Standing Committee in making necessary adjustments. “The members of the Standing Committee can make changes if they deem it necessary anywhere. They can make any decision regarding the candidates through a meeting,” he added.
The candidate announcement followed an emergency meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee, as well as a subsequent meeting with the divisional organizing secretaries of the BNP. Present at the press conference were BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Selima Rahman, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Abbas, and Major (retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, among others.