BNP Readies for National Polls, Tarique to Finalize Candidates Upon Return

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to unveil the party’s list of candidates for the upcoming national election—scheduled for early February 2026—after his return to the country.

According to party insiders, the BNP is finalising nominations based on five key criteria: clean image, popularity, sacrifice for the party, contribution to the organisation, and freedom from internal disputes.

The election follows the mass uprising that overthrew Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime. Citizens, deprived of their voting rights for over 15 years, are eager to participate in a genuine democratic process. However, analysts caution that both the government and the Election Commission must ensure a free and fair election. They have also emphasised that political parties share the responsibility for maintaining discipline—from candidate selection to adherence to the electoral code of conduct.

In line with this principle, BNP—one of the country’s major political parties—has completed its preliminary selection of candidates for all 300 parliamentary constituencies, senior leaders confirmed.

The party also plans to contest the polls through an alliance, and has already requested seat proposals from its partners. Some allies have submitted their preferred candidate lists to BNP’s top leadership.

Multiple sources said Tarique Rahman is personally reviewing the lists. After receiving proposals from alliance partners, he will finalise seat allocations in consultation with senior BNP leaders before finalising the party’s own candidates.

Speaking to reporters at his Gulshan residence in Dhaka on Friday, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said candidates would soon be authorised to begin ground activities.

“We are now systematically finalising candidates and will soon give the green signal to single candidates to start constituency work. However, this will become official only after the election schedule is announced,” he said.

A BNP standing committee member, requesting anonymity, added, “The candidate list will be announced once the acting chairman returns to the country. Those who are finally selected will be informally cleared to begin preparations very soon.”

Two senior leaders said Tarique Rahman has set five conditions for candidate selection:

• Clean image: Candidates must be free of allegations such as extortion, land grabbing, or other controversies.

• Popularity: Aspirants must enjoy broad public support in their constituencies. Several surveys commissioned by Tarique Rahman have been conducted nationwide, and their findings will play a key role. However, leaders stressed that popularity alone will not guarantee nomination.

• Sacrifice for the party and country: Preference will go to those who have faced repression over the past 17 years in the struggle for democracy. Family members of those killed, disappeared, or imprisoned during the former regime may also be considered, provided they meet other criteria.

• Contribution to the organisation: Longstanding involvement in party activities, support for grassroots workers, and consistent participation in BNP programmes will weigh heavily.

• Freedom from internal conflict: Aspirants must be above local rivalries and factional disputes.

Party insiders noted that most nominations have been determined based on these five benchmarks. Where multiple aspirants in a constituency meet the criteria equally, the final decision will rest with the acting chairman.