2 UK-based BNP leaders, US businessman get Sylhet nominations as party drops expat Humayun, ex-mayor Ariful

As the election season heats up in Sylhet, many expatriate leaders have once again become active in the political field. Ahead of the upcoming national polls, at least 50 expatriate BNP leaders from the division have been engaged in campaign and nomination efforts, according to party sources.

However, only three expatriates have made it to the BNP's preliminary list of candidates announced yesterday (3 November).

Among them, UK BNP President and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Adviser MA Malek has been nominated from Sylhet-3, and UK BNP General Secretary Koysor M Ahmed has been nominated from Sunamganj-3. Shawkat Hossain, a US-based businessman, received the party's nomination from Moulvibazar-2.

Alongside these candidates, several expatriate leaders were left out – notably Humayun Kabir, former foreign affairs adviser to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He was recently appointed as the party's joint secretary general but was not nominated.

The exclusion of Ariful Haque Chowdhury, former Sylhet City mayor and adviser to the BNP chairperson, has also stirred discussions in Sylhet's political circles.

The Sylhet division comprises 19 parliamentary constituencies, and the BNP announced candidates in 14 of them. No names were declared yet for Sunamganj-2, Sunamganj-4, Sylhet-4, Sylhet-5, and Habiganj-1.

Regarding his exclusion, Ariful said, "We are all united for the victory of the sheaf of paddy [BNP's electoral symbol]. There is no conflict here. The party has made its decision, and we accept it."

Similarly, Abdul Qayum Chowdhury, Sylhet district BNP president and nomination-seeker for Sylhet-3, stated, "The party's decision is final. We will all work together to ensure the victory of the nominated candidate."

According to party sources, among the three expatriate nominees, UK BNP leaders MA Maek and Koysor Ahmed are known to be close associates of Tarique Rahman, who has been residing in the UK for years.

On the other hand, Shawkat is a US-based businessman and former member of the Kulaura Upazila BNP. Though he has not visited Bangladesh in recent years, he has been active in his constituency since the fall of the Awami League government.

Meanwhile, Humayun Kabir, who had sought the BNP ticket for Sylhet-2, became a talking point in local politics after 5 August. During a recent meeting between BNP leaders and UN Resident Coordinator Gwen Lewis, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had introduced him as the prospective BNP candidate for Sylhet. Humayun himself later confirmed that he would contest from Sylhet-2 if nominated.

However, yesterday, BNP announced Tahsina Rushdir Luna — wife of missing BNP leader and former MP M Ilias Ali — as its candidate for the Sylhet-2 constituency. Luna remains the only female BNP candidate declared so far in the entire Sylhet division.

In Sylhet-1, Ariful had sought the BNP nomination and even started early campaign activities. However, the nomination ultimately went to Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, another adviser to the BNP chairperson and a close aide of Tarique Rahman.

Ariful, son of former BNP MP Khandaker Abdul Malik, had also contested the 2018 election from the same seat.