The Daily Star
BNP has begun preparations to prevent rebel candidates from contesting the upcoming local government elections, with party Chairman Tarique Rahman directing leaders to reach a consensus on a single candidate in each area.
Party policymakers fear that, in the absence of electoral symbols, several BNP leaders could contest from the same constituency and each claim to have the party’s backing. Such contests could split the party’s support base, weaken its preferred candidate, and give rivals an advantage.
Tarique has therefore asked local leaders to begin discussions on potential candidates before the election schedule is announced and ensure that all party units rally behind the person chosen through consultation.
He has also instructed the party to resolve internal disputes and complete the reorganisation of the BNP and its affiliated and associate bodies before the polls.
The directives came at a nearly three‑hour organisational meeting with leaders from Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, and Dinajpur districts. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior leaders attended the meeting.
Panchagarh district BNP Member Secretary and State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, who attended the meeting, said Tarique Rahman gave several suggestions on preparations for the local polls and the party’s reorganisation.
“The BNP chairman advised everyone to work together on how the party can choose a single candidate for the local government elections,” he said.
Meeting sources said the elections are expected to be held without party symbols, although candidates are likely to receive direct or indirect support from political parties.
To avert a stalemate between pro‑BNP candidates, Tarique stressed the need for a collective decision and asked leaders to remain united once a candidate is selected.
Thakurgaon district BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, who attended the meeting, said, “Local government elections are coming. We also discussed what our overall duties should be ahead of these elections.”
“The elections will be completely neutral… We want to keep the local government elections completely non‑partisan and free from party influence,” he added.
The absence of party symbols could also limit the BNP’s ability to identify its preferred contenders officially. The party therefore believes that failure to secure an early consensus could make disputes harder to resolve once the polls draw closer.
Party sources said the leadership plans to choose an acceptable candidate through consultations with local leaders, elected representatives, and the organisational units concerned, rather than impose a contender from the centre.
The process is also aimed at addressing divisions within grassroots units and strengthening coordination between the central leadership and local organisations.
BNP senior leaders believe completing the reorganisation before the local polls would help settle local feuds, streamline candidate selection, and ensure that party decisions are followed at the grassroots.
The BNP also plans to prepare for a national council after the local government elections. The local polls preparations are therefore being treated not only as an electoral exercise, but also as part of a broader effort to reorganise the party and strengthen its grassroots structure.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/politics/news/bnp-moves-early-prevent-rebel-bids-4227061
