The BNP has announced its preliminary candidates for the 13th national parliamentary elections. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir unveiled the names at a press conference in Gulshan on Monday, November 3.
Fazlur Rahman has been initially nominated to contest the Kishoreganj-4 (Itna, Mithamain, and Austagram) constituency. It is noteworthy that on August 26, Fazlur Rahman’s party positions, including his membership in the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, were suspended for three months due to alleged party discipline violations.
Other major candidates include: Chairperson Khaleda Zia, contesting from Bogura-7 and Dinajpur-3; Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, contesting from Bogura-6; and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam, contesting from Thakurgaon-1. BNP Standing Committee member Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will contest from Bira Bikram, Bhola-3.
Fazlur Rahman joined BNP in 2007 and served for about eight years as the President of Kishoreganj District BNP. He has previously contested two parliamentary elections from this constituency under the “Rice Sheaf” symbol, facing persecution from both government authorities and opposition parties. At one point, he was even forced into exile abroad due to sedition charges.