BNP decides to boycott upazila parishad polls

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its decision to boycott the upcoming upazila parishad elections. The decision was taken at BNP standing committee's virtual meeting on Monday night.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement in a press release on Tuesday.

The press release stated that BNP refuses to take part in what it perceives as an electoral mockery. Consequently, the party has chosen to boycott the upazila parishad elections, which commenced on May 8.

However, BNP's grassroots leaders were uncertain about the party's stance on the local government election until the last moment, as the BNP leadership had not yet reached a decision. Consequently, about 45 BNP leaders submitted nomination papers as independent candidates for the first phase of the 150 upazila parishad elections.

Multiple members of the BNP Standing Committee have indicated that disciplinary measures will be enforced against grassroots leaders who are contesting as candidates in the upazila elections against the party's directive. Additionally, leaders at the policymaking level of the party have mentioned plans to send instructions to those already nominated by the party, urging them to withdraw their candidacies.

The deadline for the withdrawal of nomination papers is April 22.