Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is facing significant internal pressure. Defying party decisions and central directives, more than a hundred BNP leaders across the country have submitted nomination papers as independent candidates. These leaders have chosen to contest elections against officially nominated party or alliance candidates, raising serious concerns among BNP policymakers. The BNP leadership considers participation in the election in defiance of party decisions a clear violation of party discipline. The party has announced that strict organizational measures will be taken against those who have ignored party instructions and contested as independent candidates. Several leaders have already been expelled from the party as part of this disciplinary action.
Nine Leaders, Including Rumeen Farhana, Expelled
On charges of violating party decisions and conducting election and organizational activities against party directives, BNP has expelled nine leaders, including Barrister Rumeen Farhana, Assistant International Affairs Secretary of the BNP National Executive Committee. They have been removed from the party’s primary membership as well as from all organizational positions.
The decision was announced in a statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday (December 30). According to the statement, the expulsions were carried out due to participation in elections in defiance of party decisions and breaches of organizational discipline.
Those expelled include National Executive Committee members Muhammad Gias Uddin, Mohammad Shah Alam, Hasan Mamun, and Abdul Khalek. Others include former Assistant Vice President of the Central Chhatra Dal and Secretary General of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front Tarun Dey; former convener of Dhaka North BNP Saiful Alam Nirab; Sylhet district BNP Vice President Mamunur Rashid (Chaksu Mamun); and BNP President of Bancharampur Upazila in Brahmanbaria, agriculturist Mehdi Hasan Palash.
Independent Candidates Under Close Watch
A senior BNP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that leaders who have submitted nominations against party candidates are being kept under strict surveillance. According to the announced election schedule, they will be instructed to withdraw their nomination papers within the stipulated timeframe. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action under the party constitution.
He added, “Maintaining party discipline is now the most important issue. Anyone contesting elections outside party decisions will weaken party unity.”
Tarique Rahman’s Warning Ignored
Earlier, during a meeting with nomination aspirants just before finalizing party candidates, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman urged all party leaders and activists to work in unity to ensure the victory of the party’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. He also explicitly warned against violating party decisions.
However, despite this clear directive, a large number of leaders have chosen to run as independent candidates against official party nominees. Political analysts believe this development is alarming for the BNP and reflects growing internal challenges.
Reaction from Party Leadership
BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “We are hearing reports that many have submitted nomination papers in defiance of party decisions. However, we do not yet have specific details. Gradually, we will know how many independent candidates there are and in how many constituencies. No formal discussion has taken place on this issue so far.”
Independent Candidates Across the Country
Leaders from almost all divisions of the country have contested as independent candidates after failing to secure party nominations or by going against party decisions. Constituencies in Kurigram, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Natore, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Narail, Chuadanga, Manikganj, Gopalganj, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, and Chattogram have seen BNP leaders from central, district, and upazila levels submitting nomination papers as independent candidates.
In several constituencies, multiple leaders from the same party are contesting independently, raising concerns about vote splitting. In many areas, these candidates have already launched vigorous election campaigns, further complicating the party’s efforts to enforce its decisions.
Concern Among Political Analysts
Political analysts believe that such widespread defiance of party decisions indicates organizational weakness within the BNP. They argue that if the central leadership fails to effectively implement its decisions at the grassroots level, it could negatively affect the party’s overall electoral strategy.
One analyst stated, “If BNP fails to restore discipline quickly, party unity will come under serious question. At the same time, this situation could pose a major challenge for the party in the electoral arena.”
As the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers approaches, the BNP central leadership is closely watching whether independent candidates comply with party instructions. The party has made it clear that a tough stance will be taken to enforce party decisions. The key question now is how many candidates will follow the directive and how many will ultimately face disciplinary action.
As the 13th National Parliamentary Election draws closer, this internal crisis within the BNP has become a major topic of discussion in the country’s political landscape.