BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to announce the party’s list of candidates for the upcoming national election – slated for early February 2026 – after returning to the country.
According to BNP insiders, the party is finalising its nominations on the basis of five key criteria: a clean image, popularity, sacrifice for the party, contribution to the organisation, and freedom from internal conflict.
The election comes in the wake of the mass uprising that toppled fascist Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime.
Citizens, deprived of their franchise for over 15 years, are eager to vote, while analysts warn that both the government and the Election Commission must ensure the polls are free and fair.
They have also stressed that political parties themselves bear responsibility for discipline during the process, from candidate selection to observing the election code of conduct.
In line with this responsibility, BNP – one of the country’s major political parties – has completed the preliminary selection of candidates for all 300 parliamentary seats, senior leaders confirmed.
BNP leaders also indicated that the party will form an electoral alliance with its partners, from whom it has already requested lists of expected seats. Some allies have already submitted their proposed candidates to the BNP leadership.
Several sources have confirmed that BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is personally scrutinising the list. After receiving the lists from all alliance partners, he will first finalise the seats allocated to them in consultation with the party’s senior leaders and allies.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Friday, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said candidates would soon be cleared to begin their constituency work.
“We are now systematically finalising candidates and will soon give the green signal to single candidates to start their constituency work. However, this will be official only after the election schedule is announced,” he said.
Several sources confirmed that Tarique Rahman is personally reviewing the lists. Once the allies’ seats are settled in consultation with senior leaders, the final BNP candidate list will be prepared.
A member of the BNP standing committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The BNP candidate list will be announced only after the acting chairman returns to the country. However, those who are finally nominated will be informally given the green signal very soon.”
When asked who would secure BNP nominations, at least two party leaders said that Tarique Rahman has laid down five conditions for selection. These include:
Clean image: Candidates must be free of allegations such as extortion, illegal land occupation or other controversies.
Popularity: Aspirants must enjoy broad public support in their constituencies. Several surveys commissioned by the acting chairman have been conducted nationwide, and their findings will play a decisive role. However, leaders stressed that popularity alone will not determine nominations.
Sacrifice for the party and country: Those who have endured repression over the past 17 years in the struggle for democracy will receive preference. Family members of those who were killed, disappeared, or imprisoned during the dictatorship will also be considered, provided they meet other requirements.
Contribution to the organisation: Longstanding commitment to BNP activities, consistent support for grassroots activists, and active involvement in party programmes will weigh heavily in the selection process.
Freedom from internal disputes: Aspirants must be above local rivalries and factionalism.
Party insiders added that nominations have largely been finalised using these five benchmarks. Where multiple aspirants in a constituency meet the criteria equally, the final decision will rest with the acting chairman, they added.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
