The BNP has begun strategizing to contest the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election alongside like-minded parties.
To this end, the party’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, has been holding a series of meetings since yesterday at the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka.
These meetings involve parties that participated in the anti-fascist simultaneous movement, including the 12-party alliance, the nationalist like-minded alliance, the Democracy Platform, Democratic Left Unity, and various other political groups and platforms.
From these discussions, the BNP has reiterated its commitment to contesting the election in partnership with its movement-time allies and forming the next government together. However, the party is being notably more strategic about seat-sharing this time. According to sources, the BNP is considering allocating a maximum of 50 seats to its allies—a notable reduction from the 59 seats offered in the 2018 election.
BNP policymakers say that the primary criteria for seat allocation will be: active participation in the anti-fascist movement, a strong on-the-ground organizational presence, and realistic chances of winning. The party aims to avoid weakening its electoral base by offering seats to weaker allies merely for the sake of symbolic unity.
During one of the meetings, Tarique Rahman told allies: “Through your united efforts, the July uprising of students, workers, and the masses toppled fascism. In the upcoming election, with the people’s mandate, we can build a democratic and welfare-oriented Bangladesh in line with our 31-point agenda.”
The BNP last participated in a national election in 2018, when it formed the “Jatiya Oikya Front” with several anti-Awami League parties under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain, while also maintaining its existing 20-party alliance. Of the 59 seats allocated to allies, 40 went to the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 20-party alliance and 19 to the Jatiya Oikya Front. Most allied candidates contested under the BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol. However, post-election analysis revealed that many of these allies were weak on the ground and lacked a solid vote base at the local level. This not only led to underwhelming results but also forced the BNP to sideline some of its own promising candidates.
Learning from that experience, the BNP is now taking a more pragmatic and strategic approach to alliance-building and seat allocation. Party strategists believe that effective partnerships matter more than symbolic unity. As such, only allies who were actively involved in the movement and have a realistic chance of winning will be considered for nomination.
Sources indicate that the BNP has already asked its allies to submit their expected seat lists. While formal seat-sharing talks have yet to begin, coordination is already underway behind the scenes. Based on these inputs, the BNP’s liaison committee is preparing a shortlist,
which will form the basis for final discussions once the election schedule is announced.
When asked about the alliance strategy, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune: “We will go to the polls with those who stood with us on the streets during our long struggle. Any party whose ideology aligns with ours may be included in the alliance. But no final decisions have been made yet.”
Saiful Haque, leader of the Democracy Platform and General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, added: “Discussions are ongoing with the BNP on various matters. These are mostly courtesy or goodwill meetings. Talks on elections, seat-sharing, and other specific issues will follow.”
Jamaat to be excluded from alliance
In the 2018 national election, the BNP included Jamaat-e-Islami as part of its electoral alliance. However, following the 2024 uprising, a visible rift has developed between the two parties. Jamaat, once a key BNP ally with longstanding political ties, is now being strategically sidelined. Senior BNP leaders have made it clear that Jamaat will not be included in the upcoming election alliance.
This decision is both political and strategic. First, distancing itself from Jamaat allows the BNP to present a more liberal and contemporary image to civil society, the youth, and centrist political forces. Analysts have long argued that the BNP’s ties with Jamaat have hurt its broader acceptability. Severing these ties may make the BNP more appealing to potential new allies.
Second, excluding Jamaat also eliminates the pressure of allocating 20 to 25 seats to the party—seats that were reserved for it in the last election. These can now be redistributed to more active and organizationally strong partners or individual candidates involved in the movement. This allows the BNP to build a leaner and more effective alliance, while expanding opportunities for its own candidates.
Possible alliance with NCP
The newly formed National Citizens’ Party (NCP)—founded by youth leaders of the recent uprising—has reportedly proposed an official alliance with the BNP, according to multiple sources. The NCP has demonstrated strong organizational momentum through a series of nationwide marches and has gained traction among young and first-time voters. It has also clearly articulated its political position in public rallies and media appearances, thereby exerting strategic pressure on the BNP.
However, the BNP’s stance toward the NCP remains mixed. On one hand, the NCP’s visible and courageous role in the uprising has made it politically relevant. On the other hand, certain remarks by senior NCP leaders have triggered criticism and resentment within BNP
ranks, leading to a complex mix of support and skepticism.
Still, the evolving political landscape and election dynamics may shift the equation. Several senior BNP leaders have stated they are keeping the door open for further dialogue. According to them, if the NCP engages constructively and proposes credible, winnable candidates for a limited number of seats, the BNP may consider making concessions.
