The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has revised its candidate list in three parliamentary constituencies in Chittagong, replacing nominees in two seats and naming a new candidate in another.
Party sources said Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, has been declared the final candidate for Chittagong-4 (Sitakunda and part of Chittagong city), replacing the initially nominated Kazi Mohammad Salauddin.
In another major reshuffle, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, who was earlier slated to contest from Chittagong-10 (Halishahar–Pahartali–Panchlaish), will now contest from Chittagong-11 (Bandar–Patenga). Meanwhile, Sayeed Al Noman Turya, son of veteran BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman, has been nominated as the party’s candidate for Chittagong-10.
BNP Organizing Secretary Mahbuber Rahman Shamim confirmed the changes to Dhaka Post on Saturday afternoon (December 27).
“According to the party’s decision, Aslam Chowdhury has been made the final candidate for Chittagong-4, Sayeed Al Noman for Chittagong-10, and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury for Chittagong-11,” Shamim said.
Earlier, on November 3, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had announced Kazi Mohammad Salauddin and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as candidates for Chittagong-4 and Chittagong-10, respectively. At that time, no candidate had been nominated for Chittagong-11, though Israfil Khasru—son of Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury—and Chittagong Metropolitan BNP member secretary Nazimur Rahman were seeking the nomination.
Following Salauddin’s nomination on November 3, supporters of Aslam Chowdhury staged protests by blocking the Dhaka–Chittagong highway and railway lines. Several leaders and activists aligned with Chowdhury were later expelled from the party and its affiliated organisations. In contrast, Salauddin’s supporters organised celebratory processions in the area. Since then, both factions have been holding separate party programmes.
