NAOGAON, Jan 25: According to the schedule of the 13th national parliament election, 20 January was the last day for withdrawal of candidacy. In six parliamentary constituencies of Naogaon, four candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers from two seats. However, as three 'rebel' BNP candidates from three constituencies did not withdraw their nominations, a new equation has emerged in the electoral field.
After the announcement of the final candidate list, these three constituencies of Naogaon are now being widely discussed across the district.
Party leaders and activists fear a division of the BNP's vote bank as these three candidates, contesting as independents after being denied party nomination, have a strong local standing. It is assumed that this could further complicate the path to victory for the party's official candidates.
These three rebel BNP candidates are: in Naogaon-1, former MP and valiant freedom fighter Dr Md Salek Chowdhury; in Naogaon-3, Md Parvez Arefin Siddiqui (Joni); and in Naogaon-6, former state minister Alamgir Kabir. The symbols were allocated to the candidates on 21 January.
After the nomination papers were declared valid, communications were made from various levels of the party with these three candidates and their close associates regarding withdrawal of candidacy. However, they remain firm in their decision to contest. They have started full-fledged campaigning after the allocation of symbols.
Naogaon-1 Constituency (Niamatpur, Porsha and Sapahar): The BNP's nominated candidate for this seat is Md Mostafizur Rahman, general secretary of Niamatpur Upazila BNP. He contested the 2018 national parliament election as a BNP-nominated candidate. On the other hand, former MP Dr Md Saleh Chowdhury is contesting as an independent after being denied party nomination. He is the recently expelled president of Niamatpur Upazila BNP.
Valiant freedom fighter Dr Md Saleh Chowdhury was elected MP from Naogaon-1 constituency as the BNP-nominated candidate in the 6th, 7th and 8th national parliament election. Other valid candidates in this constituency are: Principal Mahbubul Alam of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md Akbar Ali of Jatiya Party, and Maulana Abdul Haque Shah of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB).
According to local and party sources, Dr Md Saleh Chowdhury was expelled from primary membership and all party positions on 5 January for defying party decisions. Several leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations in Niamatpur upazila have also been expelled on charges of campaigning for him.
Valiant freedom fighter Dr Md Saleh Chowdhury said, "I want to fight till the end in the electoral field. I am campaigning by forming an election management committee and following the code of conduct. I am a physician, I want to spend the rest of my life serving people, and I want to prove the popularity of my position through the election results."
Party leaders and activists believe that since the valiant freedom fighter Dr Md Saleh Chowdhury has a strong vote bank based on family legacy, his contesting as an independent has complicated the victory equation for the BNP candidate.
Naogaon-3 Constituency (Mohadevpur and Badalgachhi): The BNP's nominated candidate for this seat is Md Fazle Huda Babul, President of Badalgachhi Upazila BNP and Joint General Secretary of the Central Committee of Krishak Dal. Parvez Arefin Siddiqui (Johnny) is contesting as an independent after being denied party nomination. He is a member of Mohadevpur Upazila BNP and the son of late former deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui.
Parvez Arefin has a strong family-based vote bank in the area. Therefore, party leaders and activists believe that his contesting as an independent has complicated the victory equation for the BNP candidate.
Other valid candidates in this constituency are: Md Mahfuzur Rahman of Jamaat-e-Islami, Masud Rana of Jatiya Party, Md Nasir Bin Asgar of IAB, Kalipada Sarkar of BSD, and Abdullah Al Mamun of BNF.
Although the party contacted him to withdraw his candidacy, Parvez Arefin remains firm on his decision to contest. Attempts were made to contact him multiple times on this matter, but he did not respond. However, Iftikharul Alam, Member Secretary of Mohadevpur Upazila Swechchhasebak Dal, known as his follower, told 'Amar Desh', "Parvez Bhai is firm on his decision to contest and continues to campaign in the area."
Naogaon-6 Constituency (Raninagar and Atrai): Former state minister for public works Alamgir Kabir is contesting as an independent and a BNP rebel in this constituency. He was elected MP as a BNP-nominated candidate from the 5th to the 8th national parliament elections. This time, he is contesting as an independent after being denied party nomination.
The BNP's nominated candidate for this seat is Sheikh Rezaul Islam (Reju), President of Atrai Upazila BNP. Other valid candidates are: Md Khabirul Islam of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md Rafiqul Islam of IAB, and Ataur Rahman Ratan of Bangladesh Republican Party.
Former state minister Alamgir Kabir said, "My fight is against extortionists and terrorists. I want to stay in the field till the end in this fight."
District BNP General Secretary Mamunur Rahman (Ripon) said that action is being taken against the rebel candidates in accordance with the central decision. He said organisational measures to maintain party discipline are ongoing.
