Giasuddin Quader confirmed as BNP candidate for Raozan
Quader had initially secured the BNP’s provisional nomination for Raozan on 4 December
Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury has been officially nominated by the BNP to contest the Chattogram-6 (Raozan) constituency, receiving the party's endorsement today (19 January) in a letter signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Quader had initially secured the BNP's provisional nomination for Raozan on 4 December. His nomination sparked protests from supporters of another aspirant, former convenor of Chattogram North BNP Golam Akbar Khondakar. On 28 December, the party also issued a nomination letter to Golam Akbar, resulting in both candidates submitting papers under the party symbol. Quader simultaneously filed as an independent candidate. After verification, the returning officer approved both nominations as valid.
Under current electoral law, political parties can initially nominate multiple candidates for a seat. However, at the final stage, the party must designate one candidate for the election symbol, notifying the returning officer accordingly. Following this procedure, the BNP selected Quader as its official candidate for Raozan, resolving the confusion surrounding the seat.
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According to the election schedule, tomorrow is the last day to withdraw candidacy, with the returning officer set to allocate symbols to the final candidates tomorrow.
Historically, the BNP last won Chattogram-6 in the 1996 election, when Gias Quader defeated the now-banned Awami League candidate ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury. Since then, internal conflicts over party nominations and leadership have persisted between Qader and Golam Akbar.
The rivalry intensified after the July 2024 mass uprising. Raozan witnessed 17 killings during this period, including 12 political murders, with 10 deaths directly linked to clashes between the two BNP factions. Hundreds were injured in over a hundred incidents of confrontation.
In response, the BNP central leadership took disciplinary measures: Quader's vice-chairman post was suspended, while the Chattogram North district committee under Golam Akbar's leadership was dissolved. Although these actions briefly calmed tensions, the announcement of the election schedule reignited unrest. Earlier this month, a supporter of Gias Qader was shot dead, highlighting the ongoing volatility in the constituency.
