With elections approaching, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is pursuing a dual strategy—combining restraint with firmness—when dealing with party leaders who are contesting as independents or so-called “rebels.” For now, the party is trying to persuade these candidates to withdraw their nominations, but disciplinary action will follow if negotiations fail.

Multiple senior party sources say BNP views leaders who filed nomination papers outside party decisions as rebels. To address the situation, senior regional leaders have been assigned to directly engage with such candidates in their respective areas. They are holding face-to-face discussions, stressing the importance of party discipline and explaining the potential consequences of defying party directives. Following these efforts, several candidates have already agreed to withdraw.

According to party insiders, these talks are being conducted within the party’s organizational framework and are not meant to apply undue pressure. Instead, leaders are appealing to unity and electoral strategy, urging candidates to reconsider their decisions. If regional-level efforts fail, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman may step in during the final phase of negotiations.

However, party leadership considers this persuasion process to be the last opportunity for rebel candidates. Those who refuse to withdraw after this phase will face organizational action. BNP has already expelled nine leaders for violating party decisions by running independently.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said on Friday that party leaders are continuously trying to convince the rebels, but disciplinary steps will be unavoidable if those efforts do not succeed.

According to the Election Commission’s schedule, January 20 is the final day for withdrawing nominations. Candidates who step aside in favor of official party nominees within the deadline will be publicly appreciated. After that date, strict measures will be taken against disobedient leaders. BNP has made it clear that all party members must work exclusively for official nominees. Even if a rebel candidate remains in the race, party activists are prohibited from supporting anyone other than the party-backed contender. Failure to comply will hold both individuals and local party units accountable.

Party leadership believes that enforcing discipline among rebel candidates will strengthen BNP’s electoral position. Maintaining organizational unity has therefore become the party’s top priority.

According to internal estimates, BNP leaders have filed independent nomination papers in 117 constituencies nationwide, totaling 119 candidates. Some nominations were rejected during scrutiny. Party insiders say rebel candidacies have emerged due to various reasons, including resentment over the exclusion of long-serving leaders and internal disputes at the local level.

Seat-Sharing Deals, but Ground Reality Differs

BNP has reached seat-sharing arrangements with its joint-movement allies in 16 constituencies. While these deals initially brought relief among allied parties, the situation on the ground remains challenging. In many constituencies where BNP has ceded seats, alliance candidates are reportedly not receiving adequate organizational support from BNP’s local units. Instead, rebel BNP candidates remain active, leaving alliance nominees sidelined.

As a result, leaders of allied parties are seeking direct intervention from BNP’s top leadership and the election management committee. They argue that clear, public instructions from the center are necessary to ensure grassroots cooperation.

In this election, BNP has left seats for several alliance candidates, including figures from Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, NPP, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Revolutionary Workers Party, NDM, Ganosanghati Andolon, BLD Party, and LDP across multiple constituencies.

Some of these candidates—such as Fariduzzaman Farhad, Rashed Khan, Shahadat Hossain Selim, Ehsanul Huda, Redwan Ahmed, and Bobby Hajjaj—have since joined BNP and are contesting under the party’s electoral symbol. BNP has also allocated four seats to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, where candidates are contesting under their own party symbol.

Allied party leaders say that despite seat-sharing agreements, the absence of firm central directives to grassroots BNP units has created confusion and hesitation in the field. Although some improvement has been seen after informing BNP’s top leadership, it remains below expectations. Many alliance candidates now believe that full cooperation will be difficult without strong and explicit instructions from BNP’s central command.