Dhaka—Ahead of the 13th national elections, the BNP has announced that it will give up eight more seats under a seat agreement with seven parties that are partners in its simultaneous movement. As a result, the party has so far given up a total of 12 seats to the partner parties.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the decision at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Wednesday. He said that after long discussions, the agreement has been finalized on the seats where consensus was reached with the parties participating in the simultaneous movement.
According to the new list, Nagorik Oikya, Jatiya Party (Kazi Jafar), Islami Oikyajot, Gana Sanghati Andolan, Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party, NPP and Gana Adhikar Parishad will participate in the election under their respective symbols. The designated seats are Bogra-2, Pirojpur-1, Narail-2, Jessore-5, Patuakhali-3, Jhenaidah-4, Dhaka-12 and Brahmanbaria-6.
Mirza Fakhrul said that the scope of the discussion does not end here; if necessary, further compromises can be made. He also said that support has been given to LDP’s Redwan Ahmed in Comilla-7 constituency and NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj in Dhaka-13 constituency. Those who have joined the BNP will contest the elections under the symbol of the sheaf of rice, while the partner parties will contest under their own symbols.
Earlier, BNP had announced an agreement with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh on four seats. After announcing candidates for 272 seats in two phases, according to the latest decision, BNP has finalized its candidates for 274 seats so far. Discussions are ongoing on the remaining seats.
BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were present at the press conference.