Dhaka, Dec 28 (V7N) – BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to contest the upcoming parliamentary election not only from Bogura-6 but also from the Dhaka-17 constituency, prompting Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho to withdraw from Dhaka-17 and run instead from Bhola-1.
The development was confirmed late Saturday night, December 27, by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed while speaking to a media outlet.
Of the 20 parliamentary constituencies in Dhaka, BNP has kept three seats vacant as part of its electoral strategy. Dhaka-17, comprising the upscale areas of Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara, is one of those constituencies. Earlier, it was widely speculated that BJP Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho would contest the seat as a BNP alliance partner.
According to BNP sources, after returning to the country, Tarique Rahman applied on Saturday to become a registered voter of Dhaka-17. Senior BNP leaders simultaneously requested him to contest the election from the constituency. Upon learning of this decision, Andaleeve Rahman Partho chose to step aside from Dhaka-17 as a mark of respect for Tarique Rahman and decided to contest instead from Bhola-1.
Party insiders said BNP had offered Andaleeve Rahman Partho the option of joining the party and contesting the election under the BNP’s “Dhaner Shish” symbol. However, he declined the proposal, opting to run from Bhola-1 under his own party’s symbol. He has already submitted his nomination papers for the constituency.
Earlier, BNP had initially announced Golam Nabi Alamgir as its candidate for Bhola-1. However, according to the latest decision, BNP will not field any candidate against Andaleeve Rahman Partho in that seat.
Notably, Andaleeve Rahman Partho was elected a Member of Parliament from Bhola-1 in 2008 with BNP’s support. His father, the late Nazurul Rahman Manju, was a former lawmaker and minister from the same constituency.
The latest seat adjustments reflect ongoing negotiations and strategic coordination within the BNP-led alliance ahead of the national election.
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