BNP Candidate Rezaul Karim Badsha for Tarique Rahman’s Vacated Seat

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has officially nominated Rezaul Karim (Badsha), president of the Bogura district BNP, as its candidate for the Bogura-6 by-election. The seat, covering 21 wards of Bogura Municipality and the Sadar Upazila, was vacated by BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following his dual constituency victory in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections.

On Thursday evening, Rezaul Karim received the party’s nomination letter, signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, at the BNP chairman’s Gulshan office in Dhaka. Present at the handover were former Bogura district BNP president A K M Mahbubur Rahman, district vice-president Abdul Bashed, and acting district general secretary Mosharraf Hossain.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Mosharraf Hossain, also the BNP MP for Bogura-4, said:

“The party nomination for the Bogura-6 by-election was formally handed to Rezaul Karim at the chairman’s Gulshan office today at 6:30 PM.”

Election Schedule

The Election Commission announced the schedule last Tuesday, confirming the by-election will take place on 9 April, with polling from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Key dates are as follows:

The by-election follows Tarique Rahman’s victory in both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies during the 12 February general election. He relinquished the Bogura-6 seat a day before taking the oath, prompting the current by-election.

BNP’s Historical Dominance in Bogura-6

Bogura-6 has long been a BNP stronghold. According to party sources, the BNP has held the seat consistently since 1991. Notably, former BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia secured overwhelming victories in 1996, 2001, and 2008, while Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir won the seat by a significant margin in 2018.

Political analysts suggest that Rezaul Karim’s local influence, combined with BNP’s historic voter base in the region, positions him as a strong contender in the upcoming by-election. The results will not only shape the political landscape of Bogura-6 but are also expected to influence BNP’s national political momentum in the lead-up to future parliamentary contests.

This by-election is closely watched as a key indicator of voter sentiment and the party’s ability to maintain its traditional strongholds amidst shifting political dynamics in Bangladesh.