Tarique Rahman's nominations for Dhaka-17, Bogura-6 declared valid
Tarique Rahman’s nomination papers for the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies were submitted on 29 December to contest the upcoming national election from the two seats.
The nomination papers of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman for the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies were declared valid today (3 January) following thorough scrutiny by the respective returning officers of the Election Commission.
In Dhaka, the decision was announced at noon at the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's office in Segunbagicha. Sharif Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, the returning officer for 13 constituencies in the capital, confirmed that Tarique's candidature for the high-profile Dhaka-17 seat was found valid after completing all verification stages.
The returning officer also cleared the nomination of SM Khaliduzzaman, the candidate backed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, for the same seat. Representatives of Tarique Rahman, including BNP Chairperson's adviser Abdus Salam, were present during the announcement and expressed their satisfaction.
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Bogura-6 also cleared
Earlier in the morning, Returning Officer Md Toufiqul Rahman declared Tarique's nomination for Bogura-6 valid at his office there. Along with the BNP leader, the nomination of Jamaat-backed candidate Principal Abidur Rahman Sohel was also accepted.
However, several other aspirants in the Bogura-6 race saw their bids rejected, including candidates from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, JSD, and Basad. Bogura-6 has long been considered a stronghold for the BNP, having been represented by party top brass in previous elections.
Electoral move
Tarique Rahman's decision to contest from these two seats is part of the party's broader election strategy for the 13th national polls, scheduled for 12 February.
Dhaka-17 is regarded as one of the most prestigious constituencies in the country, encompassing aristocratic areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and parts of the Dhaka Cantonment. The seat was previously slated for alliance partner Andaleeve Rahman Partho of the BJP, but the BNP opted to field its top leader following Tarique's return from a 17-year exile on 25 December.
Tarique's entry into the Dhaka-17 race has already reshaped the local electoral landscape. While Jamaat's candidate remains in the fray, National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Dr Tajnuva Jabeen withdrew from the race on 28 December following Tarique's nomination submission posting controversial remarks about her party's mandate on her Facebook page.
The 13th parliamentary election will be facilitated by the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Notably, a constitutional referendum on the July National Charter will also be held concurrently with the general election.
