Nagorik Oikya quits BNP-led alliance over Bogura-2 seat dispute

The Nagorik Oikya has announced its decision to leave the BNP-led alliance and contest the upcoming parliamentary election independently, citing failure to resolve seat-sharing disputes with the BNP.

Party President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the decision was forced after the BNP refused to withdraw its candidate from Bogura-2, despite earlier understandings on seat allocation. He also announced that Nagorik Oikya will field candidates in 11 constituencies on its own.

The decision was formally announced on Wednesday (January 21).

Earlier, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) had also exited the BNP alliance over similar disagreements and declared plans to contest independently.

The Bogura-2 constituency emerged as the main flashpoint. Although Manna was contesting from the seat, the BNP made a last-minute decision to nominate Mir Shahe Alam with the party’s ‘Dhaner Shish’ symbol and did not withdraw the candidature, triggering a final rupture within the alliance.

Party sources said Manna held multiple rounds of talks with senior BNP leaders to resolve the issue. With no breakthrough, he announced on Monday, at an emergency press briefing, that Nagorik Oikya would follow an “independent path” in the election.

According to the party, Mahmudur Rahman Manna will contest from Dhaka-18 and Bogura-2, while Nagorik Oikya nominees will run in nine other constituencies.

Notably, on December 24, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had announced a preliminary seat-sharing arrangement with alliance partners and disclosed the names of 10 leaders, including Manna. However, the BNP’s decision to retain its candidate in Bogura-2 ultimately led Nagorik Oikya to quit the alliance.