11th general election: BNP starts selling nomination papers

The BNP Monday began selling nomination papers for the upcoming 11th general election.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated nomination form sales at the party’s Naya Paltan central office, in Dhaka, around 10:45am.

Fakhrul – along with senior party leaders Mirza Abbas and Nazrul Islam Khan – bought the Feni 1, Bogra 6, and Bogra 7 forms on behalf of the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is current serving her jail term in a graft case.

Later, the BNP secretary general also collected nomination form of Thakurgaon 1 constituency for himself.

Meanwhile, the BNP leaders and activists gathered at the party office to collect their nomination forms. The nomination-seekers have two days to collect their forms.

The cost of each form has been set at Tk5,000. The nomination-seekers will also have to submit a Tk25,000 security deposit.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance will be participating in the polls. Their decision came after the Jatiya Oikya Front announced it will contest in the elections too.

Eight parties from the 20-party alliance also plan to contest in the polls with the BNP’s electoral symbol, a sheaf of paddy.

They are: BNP, Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Khelafat Majlish, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, and Jamiyate Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir holding up an election nomination form at BNP's Naya Paltan office on November 12, 2018 Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

Khaleda blesses BNP’s election participation 

Hours after collecting three party nomination papers for their chairperson, BNP senior leaders met Khaleda Zia in jail and sought her blessings as the party formally started their election journey after 10 long years.

Fakhrul along with the BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar and Mirza Abbas visited Khaleda at the old Dhaka Central Jail in Nazimuddin Road around 2:40pm.

They came out of the jail nearly 90 minutes later.

"Madam (Khaleda) blessed us. She hopes we will be able to move ahead with the people's unity we have forged," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

BNP leaders spoke to the media after their meeting with their chairperson, reports UNB.

They took her opinion about the BNP's decision on joining the polls and the future course of action.

The five senior BNP leaders also talked about her release and participation in the election as three nomination papers were bought for her, the party insiders claimed.

Fakhrul to govt: Shift Khaleda to BSMMU again

After his meeting with the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia in jail, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday demanded that she be moved back to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) again as she still is seriously ill, reports UNB.

"Madam (Khaleda) is very sick and she is not receiving proper treatment. The authorities ignored the doctors' advice to keep her at Post Graduate (PG) Hospital (BSMMU). She was suddenly moved back to jail which was inhuman," Fakhrul said.

He further said: "We strongly demand the authorities to ensure better treatment for her again at the PG Hospital immediately."

The BNP leader also demanded her release from jail.