As part of its strategy for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced candidates for 237 out of 300 constituencies. According to party insiders, the remaining 63 seats have been kept vacant as part of a political strategy. A significant portion of these seats may be allocated to top leaders of BNP’s allied and like-minded political groups.

Party sources said that 12 senior leaders from allied parties, who have been active alongside the BNP in anti-government movements and the July uprising, have already received a “green signal” to contest in the election.

According to those sources, the 12 leaders are:

• Pirojpur-1: Mustafa Jamal Haider, Chairman of Jatiya Party (Zafar)

• Bogra-2: Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya

• Dhaka-17: Andalib Rahman Partha, Chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP)

• Laxmipur-1: Shahadat Hossain Selim, Chairman of Bangladesh LDP

• Kishoreganj-5: Syed Ehsanul Huda, Chairman of Bangladesh National Party

Additionally:

• Dhaka-13: Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM)

• Brahmanbaria-6: Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of Gonosanghati Andolon

• Chattogram-14: Professor Omar Faruq, son of LDP Chairman Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed

• Cumilla-7: Dr. Redwan Ahmed, Secretary General of LDP

• Narail-2: Dr. Fariduzzaman Farhad, Convener of the Nationalist Like-Minded Alliance and Chairman of NPP

• Patuakhali-3: Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gono Odhikar Parishad

• Jhenaidah-2: Rashed Khan, General Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad

A senior leader from the like-minded alliance said,

“We have received positive signals for these 12 constituencies. Discussions are still ongoing regarding how many seats will be allotted to each of the allied parties.”

Political analysts believe that BNP’s move to coordinate with its like-minded partners on seat sharing indicates the formation of a broader opposition alliance ahead of the upcoming national election.