Citizen Oikya Ends Alliance with BNP, Opts for Solo Run in 11 Seats

Citizen Oikya, led by Mahmudur Rahman Manna, has finally parted ways with the BNP after failing to reach an agreement on seat sharing. The party announced it will contest the upcoming election independently in 11 constituencies using its own symbol, the “Kettle.”

Party president Mahmudur Rahman Manna will run in two constituencies—Dhaka-18 (greater Uttara area) and Bogura-2 (Shibganj). The split with the BNP came at the final stage of candidate selection for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Campaigning under the slogan “Change Bangladesh,” Citizen Oikya has fielded nine other candidates besides Manna. Among them are presidium member Mofakkharul Islam in Rangpur-5; joint general secretary Nazmus Sakib Anwar in Sirajganj-1; joint general secretary Md. Kabir Hasan in Jamalpur-4; and finance affairs secretary Shahnaz Ranu in Pabna-4. Central committee member Swapan Majumder will contest from Chattogram-9, while Enamul Haque (Chandpur-2), retired Major Abdus Salam (Kurigram-2), Mohammad Shamsul Alam (Rajshahi-2), and Mohammad Rezaul Karim (Lakshmipur-2) are also in the race.

With Citizen Oikya choosing to go it alone, Manna’s nearly decade-long political partnership with the BNP has effectively come to an end. BNP leaders have so far remained silent on the reasons behind the fallout.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Manna said the BNP initially gave him official backing in Bogura-2, but later nominated another candidate there as well. “Various explanations were floated afterward, but I still don’t know the real reason behind their decision,” he said.

On December 24, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had publicly mentioned Manna’s name among ten leaders for seat coordination. However, the BNP later awarded its electoral symbol to a local party leader in Bogura-2. Anticipating complications, Manna also submitted his nomination in Dhaka-18, where the BNP again fielded its own candidate. As a result, BNP nominees are now contesting both seats, while Manna is also running independently in the same constituencies.

On Monday, Citizen Oikya formally announced at an emergency press briefing that it would contest the election independently and that Manna would remain a candidate in both seats.

“Politics First, Ministry Later”

Last Friday night, Manna was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University with chest pain and underwent an angiogram. After treatment, he returned home. During his hospitalization, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul visited him.

Manna later revealed that before his medical procedure, a journalist conveyed a message suggesting he withdraw from the election due to illness, with the assurance that he would be made a minister instead. According to Manna, he rejected the proposal outright and informed senior BNP leadership that he was not interested.

When asked about the allegation, Mirza Fakhrul declined to comment.

On Tuesday night, while attending a rally in Uttara demanding justice for the killing of Osman Hadi and campaigning for a “Yes” vote in the referendum, Manna reiterated his stance. “I will stay in politics. At this moment, politics means elections. I will not withdraw. Whether I become a minister or not is secondary,” he said.

Referring again to the alleged offer, he added, “Some people told me there was no need to become an MP since I would be made a minister. Why would I give up politics for such assurances? That would be like accepting charity.”

Since 2013, Manna and the BNP had maintained close ties through various anti-government platforms. Citizen Oikya was also a partner in the BNP-led National Unity Front before the 2018 election and contested five seats under the alliance symbol, including Bogura-2. Later, in 2022, Citizen Oikya joined several parties to form the Democracy Stage, which coordinated opposition movements with the BNP.

Despite earlier assurances of political recognition, Citizen Oikya’s expectations were not met in the latest seat negotiations—leading to the final break. A similar decision to contest independently was also taken by JSD after failing to secure a seat deal.