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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday announced a list of its potential candidates for 237 constituencies ahead of the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad (parliamentary) elections, scheduled for the first half of February 2026, a significant electoral exercise after Haseena Sheikh’s resignation and escape to India. In a major political development, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will contest from three constituencies, her traditional strongholds, Bogura-7 and Feni-1, along with Dinajpur-3, marking her first bid from the northern district. The announcement signals the BNP’s intent to return to the electoral arena after boycotting both the 2014 and 2024 general elections in protest of alleged irregularities and demands for a neutral caretaker government to oversee voting. In the 2018 polls, the BNP, contesting as part of the Jatiya Oikya Front alliance, secured only five seats, a result that deepened its crisis and internal divisions. Party insiders say Monday’s list is part of a phased rollout, with remaining constituencies expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. The BNP leadership has indicated it plans to intensify its campaign strategy, aiming to restore its position as the principal opposition to the ruling Awami League. Khaleda Zia, a two-time former prime minister, has largely remained out of active politics in recent years due to health issues and corruption convictions. However, her decision to contest from three seats is seen by many within the party as a symbolic assertion of political resurgence ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested national election.
