BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Member Secretary of the party’s Election Management Committee, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, told The Times of Dhaka yesterday that the party is still overwhelmed by grief. He said the emotional weight has reduced enthusiasm for election activities, but whatever can be done is still being carried out.

Many BNP leaders and activists believe that although the party’s late chairperson Khaleda Zia is no longer physically present, she will remain at the centre of this election campaign. The party plans to turn public mourning over her death into political momentum. BNP leaders say the massive turnout at her funeral, the emotional farewell from people across political lines, and the respect shown by the international community will be used to mobilise voter support. The aim is to convert this public sympathy into votes and preserve the emotional unity through organisational strength.

To achieve this, BNP has instructed candidates in every constituency to stay active on the ground, unite local leaders and activists, and increase public engagement through rallies, courtyard meetings, and direct voter contact.

A senior BNP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Times of Dhaka that the party’s clear message on the campaign trail will be that while Khaleda Zia is no longer alive, her ideals, political struggle, and leadership will continue to guide BNP’s programmes.

Meanwhile, BNP has formed a 41-member central election steering committee to oversee campaign strategy and implementation. The committee will manage candidate coordination, prevent internal rebellions, ensure organisational discipline, and provide overall campaign direction.

Party leaders say the biggest challenge BNP currently faces is the issue of rebel candidates. In more than a hundred constituencies, BNP leaders have submitted nomination papers against official party nominees, defying central decisions.

In response, the party has already expelled nine leaders for breaching organisational discipline, including BNP National Executive Committee Assistant International Affairs Secretary Rumeen Farhana, former Dhaka North BNP convener Saiful Alam (Nirab), and central executive committee member Hasan Mamun. These constituencies had previously been allocated to BNP’s movement allies as part of electoral seat-sharing arrangements.

Senior party sources say deadlines have been set for more candidates to withdraw their nominations. Failure to comply will result in further expulsions, and the leadership has adopted a firm position on the matter. Even amid mourning, BNP has made it clear that there will be no compromise on discipline.

The leadership believes that if internal disorder disrupts unity in seats handed to allies, the politics of public sympathy will not endure.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told The Times of Dhaka that the party had made commitments to its electoral partners regarding organisational discipline. He added that if the expelled leaders voluntarily withdraw their nomination papers, the party may consider lifting the disciplinary measures against them.