BNP Seeks Seat Deal Amid Alliance Tensions

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BNP Addresses Alliance Concerns Over Seat-Sharing Strategy

As tensions rise within the anti-fascism alliance due to BNP's unilateral decision to announce candidates without prior consultation, the party has announced its intention to finalize seat-sharing agreements with its partners ahead of the upcoming 13th national election. This move comes after several senior BNP leaders expressed concerns about the growing dissatisfaction among alliance members.

Formal Talks Begin on December 10

According to reports, BNP is set to initiate formal discussions with its allies in the anti-fascism simultaneous movement starting from Wednesday, December 10. The primary objective of these talks is to address the issue of seat distribution and ensure a more collaborative approach moving forward.

The party has emphasized that it will focus on allocating seats to alliance candidates who have a strong chance of winning, taking into account factors such as rival contestants and the amended Representation of the People Order (RPO). This regulation now prohibits the use of another party's electoral symbol, making the process more complex.

Ensuring Victory and Maintaining Unity

A BNP Standing Committee member, who requested anonymity, stated that simply offering seats to allies is not sufficient. "We must also ensure their victory," he said. For this reason, senior alliance leaders who may not have a strong position in the voting field will be given significant roles in the state structure, including the proposed upper house of parliament, if BNP forms the next government.

The Standing Committee met on Monday night to discuss the seat-sharing issue in detail. They outlined a strategy to reach an understanding with like-minded parties by assuring them of proper evaluation if BNP is voted to power. The meeting concluded that talks with alliance partners should begin immediately, as frustration has grown among some leaders over the lack of discussion on the matter.

BNP Announces Primary Candidates

BNP recently announced a total of 272 primary candidates out of 300 seats—237 in the first phase on November 3 and 36 more on December 4. Only 28 seats remain vacant, which the party claims are reserved mainly for alliance partners. However, several partners in the simultaneous movement have expressed anger and surprise, stating that BNP announced nominees in 272 seats without any consultation, despite allies submitting lists of their preferred constituencies.

In at least six constituencies—Kushtia-2, Moulvibazar-2, Narail-2, Kishoreganj-5, Jhalakathi-1, and Jashore-5—candidates from different alliance parties were expecting nominations, but BNP fielded its own leaders instead.

Allocating Seats for Unity

Another BNP Standing Committee member highlighted the importance of maintaining good relations with alliance partners by allocating a reasonable number of seats. He mentioned that the party may review nominations in a few constituencies where allies have strong expectations. "BNP wants to keep the unity of the anti-fascism alliance intact through a fair and logical seat-sharing deal," he added.

The Secretary General of BNP, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will lead a negotiation committee to sit with alliance partners and resolve misunderstandings while finalizing the seat-sharing issue. As part of this effort, BNP plans to meet with the 12-party alliance on Wednesday, followed by discussions with other groups such as Ganatantra Mancha and the Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote.

Challenges Posed by the Amended RPO

The amended RPO presents a significant challenge for seat-sharing, as each registered party must now contest using its own symbol. Previously, alliance partners could use another party's symbol within the alliance. In this situation, BNP believes the electoral symbol is now a crucial factor. "We think it will be very difficult to make voters familiar with the symbols of other alliance parties in the election field," the leader said.

He further explained that BNP leaders and activists can easily campaign for the 'Sheaf of Paddy' symbol, but it may not be possible to do the same for other symbols. "Even then, for the sake of unity, we have taken a policy decision to allocate seats for those alliance leaders who are well-known, have strong grassroots support, and have a real chance of winning."

Campaign Programs and Election Strategy

The BNP meeting also decided to launch extensive election campaign programs highlighting the party’s major pledges, including sector-wise promises on farmers' cards, family cards, healthcare, employment, education, and sports. The party aims to reach every voter through leaflets, advertisements, professional network engagements, and mass campaigns once the election schedule is announced.

Final Thoughts

Contacted, BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku confirmed that the party will soon sit with alliance partners to resolve the seat-sharing issue. He acknowledged that it is not possible to satisfy every partner by giving them seats, as winning the election must remain the priority. "So, we consider sharing seats only with those who have the potential to win," Tuku said.

He added that BNP has finalized its candidates after careful assessment of many factors. "We have still kept 28 seats vacant and many of those will be shared with our alliance partners. Everyone needs to be patient."