Defections rise in BNP – Shahjahan, over dozen others now contesting polls

A day after securing bail in an arson case, BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar resigned from the party and submitted his nomination today to run in the upcoming national elections as an Awami League candidate for the Jhalakati-1 constituency. 

Shahjahan Omar is among a dozen central and local BNP leaders who, despite their declaration to refrain from participating in elections under the current government, have purchased nomination forms. 

Besides, a growing number of others are departing from the BNP, opting to join various smaller parties, while others within the BNP ranks are choosing to run as independent candidates. 

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said the ongoing movement will remain unaffected, despite some leaders and party members participating in the polls, expressing that the defectors will realise their mistake in the future. 

The BNP leader added, "The government's attempts to break the alliance by luring and scaring certain leaders and partners may affect the weak and greedy, but the overall movement remains resilient and unaffected by such tactics." 

Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the government is employing "intelligence agencies" to create divisions among BNP and like-minded parties. 

He accused them of forming new parties, making nominations with the promise of victory, and being driven by greed for money.

Others who 'defected'

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Syed AK Ekramuzzaman yesterday submitted his nomination as an independent candidate after getting bail in the Brahmanbaria explosives case.

Former MP Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman, who was expelled from BNP five times, has also submitted his nomination for Kishoreganj-2. Earlier in the 11th National Assembly elections, he contested from this seat on the symbol of a grain of rice.

The BNP's former vice chairman and journalist Shaukat Mahmood will contest Cumilla-5. He bought nomination papers as an independent candidate.

Anwar Hossain Manju, joint convener of Juri Upazila Swechchhasebak Dal, bought the nomination form of Trinamool BNP for Moulvibazar-1 (Barlekha and Juri Upazila). He was the joint convener of the upazila committee of Chhatra Dal.

Three more leaders from BNP stronghold Bogura have announced to be independent candidates in the 12th National Assembly elections scheduled on 7 January.  

Among them are former member of the National Executive Committee of BNP and former members of parliament Ziaul Haque Molla; former president of Bogura BNP and former chairman of Shajahanpur Upazila Parishad Sarkar Badal; and former women affairs secretary of Bogua unit BNP and former vice chairman of Shibganj Upazila Parishad Beauty Begum.

Several BNP leaders joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) and announced contesting the elections: Shah Mohammad Abu Zafar of Faridpur-1, Prof Dr Mohammad Abdur Rahman of Barguna-2, Shasmur Salehin of Sunamganj-4, and Mohammad Abdul Wahab of Jhenaidah-1.

Two former leaders of BNP, Taimur Alam Khandkar and Samsher Mobin Chowdhury, who joined Trinamool BNP in late Nazmul Huda's party, are also contesting.

Popular music artist and BNP member Doly Sayontoni joined the BNM Tuesday afternoon.

The BNP's alliance partner Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Major General (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim is also participating in the election. Ibrahim has already collected nomination papers from two constituencies in Dhaka and one in Cox's Bazar.