Dhaka, Dec 18 (V7N) — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to leave the party symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ unassigned in around a dozen constituencies, as negotiations continue with its partners in the simultaneous anti-government movement. Party sources say a formal announcement will be made soon after the discussions conclude.

Tensions have emerged between the BNP and its long-time allies following the party’s announcement of candidates without prior consultation. The situation intensified after BNP declared candidates for 36 constituencies in the second phase, at least eight of which were claimed by senior leaders of smaller allied parties.

Angered by the move, some alliance partners publicly expressed frustration, while a few even announced their departure from the BNP-led bloc.

Labor Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said bluntly, “We have severed political relations with the BNP. There is no alliance relationship anymore. We went with the strong because we are weak.” His remarks reflect the growing unease within the opposition alliance.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the BNP liaison committee moved quickly to hold meetings with trusted partners. Separate discussions are now underway with top alliance leaders, focusing on the electoral environment, public support, party strength, opponent influence, and the practicality of contesting under a particular symbol.

BNP sources say summaries of these meetings will be sent to Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, after which decisions will be finalized regarding seat sharing and alliance partners for the 13th National Parliament election.

Notably, BNP has not announced candidates in constituencies linked to prominent allied leaders, including Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Mustafa Jamal Haider, Jonayed Saki, Nurul Haque Nur, Rashed Khan, and leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. However, candidates have already been announced in seats associated with alliance leaders such as Ehsanul Huda, Fariduzzaman Farhad, Ahsan Habib Lincoln, and Saiful Haque, raising questions about the future cohesion of the alliance.

Responding to concerns over unity, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas said, “No one carried out the movement for BNP alone; it was to topple Sheikh Hasina. If our partners truly love the country, they will not abandon unity.” He added, “If a party does not have a capable candidate in a constituency, should we deliberately field someone just to ensure defeat?”

On the other hand, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque cautioned that broader political realities must be considered. “Were these issues discussed when talking about a rainbow government or forming a new administration? In the current post-election reality, no single party in Bangladesh can handle the situation alone,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh National Party Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda emphasized mutual dependence within the alliance. “At this moment, national interest must come before personal interest. We may be small parties, but BNP needs us as well. If they try to sideline us now, it would be politically suicidal,” he warned.

As negotiations continue, the durability of opposition unity remains uncertain, with seat-sharing decisions likely to shape the political landscape ahead of the national polls.

END/SMA/AJ