BNP concedes eight more seats to allies

BNP has allocated eight constituencies to seven allied parties as part of an electoral understanding with partners in the anti-fascist movement. The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 24, at a press conference at the party chairperson’s office by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Under the arrangement, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, will contest from Bogura-2; Mustafa Jamal Haider of Jatiya Party, Kazi Zafar faction, from Pirojpur-1; Fariduzzaman Farhad, chairman of NPP, from Narail-2; Mufti Rashid bin Wakkas of the Islami Oikya Jote from Jashore-5; Nurul Haq Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad, from Patuakhali-3; Rashed Khan, general secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, from Jhenaidah-4; Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, from Dhaka-12; and Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosanghati Andolon, from Brahmanbaria-6.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “After long discussions with those who stood with us in the simultaneous movement, we have reached agreements on certain seats. I am informing you of those decisions today. Discussions will continue even after this list, and we will announce further decisions if they are finalised.”

He added, “Cumilla-7 has been allocated to Redowan Ahmed, and Dhaka-13 to NDM chairman Bobby Hajjaj. Redowan Ahmed joined today, and Bobby Hajjaj will join BNP soon. Those with whom electoral understandings have been reached will contest with their own party symbols, while those who have joined BNP will contest with the sheaf of paddy symbol.”