BNP announces candidates for 2 Lakshmipur seats, leaves another 2 vacant

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its candidates for two of the four constituencies in Lakshmipur ahead of the upcoming national elections, while the nominations for the remaining two seats are yet to be finalised.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the names at a press conference held at the party chairperson's political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, this evening (3 November). 

Fakhrul said candidates for the other two constituencies would be announced later, noting that some seats might be left for alliance partners.

BNP Chairperson's Advisor Abul Khair Bhuiyan has been nominated for Lakshmipur-2 (Raipur-Sadar part). A three-time MP from this constituency, Bhuiyan is considered a seasoned party leader with strong local support.

The party has nominated Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie for Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar). Annie, a former two-time MP, was elected from this seat in the 2001 and 2018 elections.

No candidates have yet been announced for Lakshmipur-1 (Ramganj) and Lakshmipur-4 (Ramgati-Kamalnagar).

Several aspirants are competing for the party nomination in Lakshmipur-1, including BLDP's Shahadat Hossain Selim, Smart Technologies Managing Director Zahirul Islam, Dhaka South BNP Joint Convener Harunur Rashid Harun, BNP's central volunteer wing Vice President Yasin Ali, and Mashfiqul Haque Joy, son of the late Ziaul Haque Zia, former state minister for local government. 

For Lakshmipur-4, former MP and BNP Chairperson's Industry and Trade Affairs Adviser ABM Ashraf Uddin Nijan sought nomination. However, alliance partner Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) chief ASM Abdur Rab is also eyeing the seat. Due to his illness, party sources said his wife, Tania Rab, the JSD senior vice president, may contest instead.

Another BNP hopeful for the same constituency is Bithika Binte Hossain, wife of late Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu.