BNP will nominate 200 candidates for the next parliamentary election, and it will employ a three-tier category system for finalizing candidates for the remaining 100 constituencies
Ahead of the upcoming 11th general polls, BNP plans to keep aside at least 100 constituencies for candidates under separate three categories not directly a party of the party.
Candidates from the party will be nominated for the remaining 200 constituencies.
However, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is yet to make a final decision on this, so the plan could change in the future.
An insider, involved with electoral activities of the BNP, made the disclosure to the Bangla Tribune.
The source confirmed that BNP will nominate 200 candidates for the next parliamentary election from a list it had prepared ahead of the 2014 general polls.
The party will employ a different method to finalise candidates for the remaining 100 constituencies.
As part of the first category system, candidates for several constituencies will be chosen from the 20-party alliance members. Candidates from Jamaat-e-Islami– a major member of the alliance, will contest in 30-40 constituencies.
However, the number could go down in the future.
Political parties such as Bikalpa Dhara, Nagorik Oikya, Gono Forum, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) are part of the second category. BNP will not nominate candidates in constituencies where candidates from these selected parties will contest in the polls.
Those who sought reform before the 2008 general polls, and professionals who were deeply involved with the politics of BNP and Khaleda Zia in the past eight years, have been made a part of the third category.
A few candidates belonging to the third category will be finalized by the BNP.
A BNP leader involved with the nomination procedure said: “A number of doctors, engineers, teachers and other professionals have earned popularity among the people, despite not having ties with any political party. BNP could choose them as candidates.”
Another BNP leader, commenting on Jamaat’s role in the next polls, said if the party [Jamaat-e-Islami] is legally recognised as a political party before polls, it could raise complications for BNP.
“However, under the current circumstances, Jamaat candidates will have to participate in the polls as independent candidates and the BNP will leave some of the constituencies to Jamaat,” the leader added.
Meanwhile, sources from Jamaat confirmed that the party is thinking of contesting in the next general polls under the BNP party symbol.
When approached, a number of Jamaat leaders however declined to confirm this on record.
Majlis-e-Shura member Moulana Habibur Rahman pointed out that the election is still far ahead and the underlying circumstances could change in the meantime.
“Before choosing a symbol for the election, we must first decide exactly how the polls will be organized,” he said.
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said the party’s parliamentary board will make the final decision on the nomination process.
“It is too early to say anything concrete about the procedure,” he said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
