In the Patuakhali-3 constituency, discussions are ongoing about providing organizational support to Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur based on directives from the BNP leadership.
Golam Maula Roni, who last contested elections on behalf of the BNP in this constituency, has said: “Nothing will happen outside of Tarique Rahman's decision.”
On October 22, BNP Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi issued a letter directing BNP leaders and workers to fully support Nurul Haque in his public engagement and organizational activities in the Patuakhali-3 constituency (Galachipa-Dashmina).
Nurul Haque's ancestral home is in Char Bishwas Union of Galachipa upazila in Patuakhali. There have been ongoing rumors about his candidacy in this constituency for a long time. Following the release of this letter, various reactions have emerged among BNP leaders and workers in Patuakhali.
In the 2008 national elections, Golam Maula was elected as a Member of Parliament after receiving the Awami League's nomination. He later joined the BNP in 2018 and contested but was defeated.
Discussions suggest he may seek the BNP's nomination again for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
When asked about the letter, Golam Maula told Prothom Alo: “Actually, I don't know anything about this matter; I've heard it from you. I have no reaction to it. However, just as Sheikh Hasina is all in all in the Awami League, Tarique Rahman's decision is final in the BNP. Nothing will happen outside of that.”
Golam Maula further said that Nurul Haque is now considered a close associate of Tarique Rahman, saying, “This is the reality. Consider that Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Mirza Fakhrul have visited VP Nur's office on the instructions of the party high command. Senior leaders like Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Abdul Moin Khan have gone to see him in the hospital. If Tarique Rahman decides to give him a nomination in Patuakhali-3 or appoint him as the coordinator for the Barishal division, nobody in the party has the right or courage to question it.”
He added, “I am not in the BNP committee. I am not in any single committee. He (Tarique Rahman) hasn't said anything to me. If he had told me to go work with Nurul Haque in his area, then you could ask questions. But he has not told me anything yet.”
He said: “Rizvi hasn't told me anything, nor has Tarique Rahman. If they had mentioned anything, I would have expressed my reaction or taken action. That’s my statement.”
The letter signed by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: “Nurul Haque has played an active and important role in the recent united movement against the fascist Awami rule. You are directed to provide comprehensive support in his parliamentary area (Patuakhali-3, Galachipa-Dashmina) for public engagement and his party's organizational activities. You are requested to provide necessary directives to inform the BNP and its affiliated and allied organizations' leaders and workers in the respective parliamentary area's police stations, upazilas, or municipalities. This order is extremely urgent.”