BNP, allies without candidates in 21 constituencies

The BNP and its allies do not have candidates in 21 constituencies as the candidature of their nominees have been rejected either by the Election Commission (EC) or higher courts. Party sources said that at least 17 BNP and alliance candidates, now in jails in different cases, either cannot take part in electioneering or would not be able to cast their votes. In most of these constituencies, the BNP and its partners could not field alternative candidates. Party leaders alleged that all this had been part of a plan to keep opposition candidates away from the election process and ensure an easy victory of ruling party candidates.

They, however, said that they were trying to choose some independent candidates to contest the polls on behalf of the opposition alliance. A High Court (HC) bench on Wednesday stayed the candidature of three BNP candidates as the government had not accepted their resignations as upazila chairmen in their respective areas. The candidates are: Monjur Elahi (Narsingdi-3), Faruk Ahmed Kabir (Gaibandha-4) and Abdul Aziz (Natore-4).

Earlier, the candidature of 18 BNP candidates, including a Jamaat leader, were rejected either by the EC or the courts. The 18 opposition candidates who cannot contest the polls on legal grounds are Md Fazlur Rahman for Joypurhat-1, Md Abu Sayed Chand for Rajshahi-6, Md Moslemuddin for Brahmanbaria-4, Md Abdul Majid for Jhenaidah-2, Faridul Kabir Talukder for Jamalpur-4, Khandaker Abu Ashfaq for Dhaka-1, Tomijuddin for Dhaka-20, Abdul Hannan for Chandpur-4, Milton Morshed for Bogura-6, Amjad Hossain Sarker for Nilphamari-4, Abdul Muhit Talukder for Bogura-3, Sarker Badal for Bogura-7, Afroza Khan for Manikganj-3, Tahsina Rushdir Luna for Sylhet-2, M Rashiduzzaman Millat for Jamalpur-1, Syed Jahangir Alam for Dinajpur-3, Nadim Mostafa for Rajshahi-5 and Jamaat leader Golam Rabbani for Rangpur-5.

Party leaders said some of the aggrieved candidates had filed appeals for the consideration of their candidature, but their efforts eventually went in vain.

Electioneering of the detained BNP and Jamaat candidates is being carried out in some constituencies by their relatives or party workers. Elsewhere the party activists are inactive due to the absence of their candidates. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told The Independent the polls under the Sheikh Hasina administration would be characterised by muscle power and flouting of the laws of the land. He said the arrangement to disqualify opposition candidates from a good number of constituencies and putting many candidates in jail were pre-planned to blunt the contest in those seats. Dr Mosharraf, who is contesting from Cumilla-1 and 2 constituencies, alleged that the police and local administration were creating obstacles for their candidates everywhere.

He said the people would create a ballot revolution if they manage to cast their votes without fear and hindrance.

BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said the police and local administration were behaving as the adversaries of of opposition parties from the beginning of the election process. He alleged that the EC has failed to create a level playing field for all candidates. He said that they were trying to field independent candidates as their party and alliance candidates to contest the polls against the ruling party candidates.  

A total of 28 political parties under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront and 20-Party Alliance are participating in the elections for the sake of “restoring democracy to the country”. The BNP has left 59 seats for the partners of the two alliances.

BNP, allies without candidates in 21 constituencies

The BNP and its allies do not have candidates in 21 constituencies as the candidature of their nominees have been rejected either by the Election Commission (EC) or higher courts. Party sources said that at least 17 BNP and alliance candidates, now in jails in different cases, either cannot take part in electioneering or would not be able to cast their votes. In most of these constituencies, the BNP and its partners could not field alternative candidates. Party leaders alleged that all this had been part of a plan to keep opposition candidates away from the election process and ensure an easy victory of ruling party candidates. They, however, said that they were trying to choose some independent candidates to contest the polls on behalf of the opposition alliance. A High Court (HC) bench on Wednesday stayed the candidature of three BNP candidates as the government had not accepted their resignations as upazila chairmen in their respective areas. The candidates are: Monjur Elahi (Narsingdi-3), Faruk Ahmed Kabir (Gaibandha-4) and Abdul Aziz (Natore-4). Earlier, the candidature of 18 BNP candidates, including a Jamaat leader, were rejected either by the EC or the courts. The 18 opposition candidates who cannot contest the polls on legal grounds are Md Fazlur Rahman for Joypurhat-1, Md Abu Sayed Chand for Rajshahi-6, Md Moslemuddin for Brahmanbaria-4, Md Abdul Majid for Jhenaidah-2, Faridul Kabir Talukder for Jamalpur-4, Khandaker Abu Ashfaq for Dhaka-1, Tomijuddin for Dhaka-20, Abdul Hannan for Chandpur-4, Milton Morshed for Bogura-6, Amjad Hossain Sarker for Nilphamari-4, Abdul Muhit Talukder for Bogura-3, Sarker Badal for Bogura-7, Afroza Khan for Manikganj-3, Tahsina Rushdir Luna for Sylhet-2, M Rashiduzzaman Millat for Jamalpur-1, Syed Jahangir Alam for Dinajpur-3, Nadim Mostafa for Rajshahi-5 and Jamaat leader Golam Rabbani for Rangpur-5. Party leaders said some of the aggrieved candidates had filed appeals for the consideration of their candidature, but their efforts eventually went in vain. Electioneering of the detained BNP and Jamaat candidates is being carried out in some constituencies by their relatives or party workers. Elsewhere the party activists are inactive due to the absence of their candidates. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told The Independent the polls under the Sheikh Hasina administration would be characterised by muscle power and flouting of the laws of the land. He said the arrangement to disqualify opposition candidates from a good number of constituencies and putting many candidates in jail were pre-planned to blunt the contest in those seats. Dr Mosharraf, who is contesting from Cumilla-1 and 2 constituencies, alleged that the police and local administration were creating obstacles for their candidates everywhere. He said the people would create a ballot revolution if they manage to cast their votes without fear and hindrance. BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said the police and local administration were behaving as the adversaries of of opposition parties from the beginning of the election process. He alleged that the EC has failed to create a level playing field for all candidates. He said that they were trying to field independent candidates as their party and alliance candidates to contest the polls against the ruling party candidates. A total of 28 political parties under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront and 20-Party Alliance are participating in the elections for the sake of restoring democracy to the country. The BNP has left 59 seats for the partners of the two alliances.