Mirza Faisal likely to get BNP ticket for Thakurgaon-1 by-election

• BNP interviews three aspirants for Thakurgaon-1 by-election
• Party plans to announce its final candidate on 25-26 September
• Nomination paper submission deadline set for 27 September
• Thakurgaon-1 seat fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir became president
• Voting scheduled for 29 October

Mirza Faisal Amin, younger brother of President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and president of Thakurgaon district BNP, is likely to get the BNP nomination for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election, according to party sources.

The final decision will be announced on 25-26 September. Party sources said BNP has also decided to have another candidate submit nomination papers to avoid the risk of losing the seat if its nominated candidate’s candidacy is cancelled.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee and Parliamentary Board at the party chairman’s political office in Gulshan last night (18 September).

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting, which began around 7:30pm and ended around 9:30pm.

Three people submitted nomination forms for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election on 16 September: Mirza Faisal Amin, district BNP Vice President Sultanul Ferdous Nomro Chowdhury and Vice President Obaidullah Masud.

At yesterday’s meeting, the BNP Parliamentary Board interviewed all three aspirants and heard their views on the development of the area.

Party sources said the Representation of the People Order (RPO) has recently been amended to allow parties to submit nomination letters at the time of nomination paper submission.

As a result, if the scrutiny committee cancels the nomination paper of a party-nominated candidate, there will be no opportunity to field a replacement candidate.

To avoid this risk, the BNP high command decided to allow multiple candidates to submit nomination papers.

The Thakurgaon-1 seat was declared vacant on 22 August after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir became president.

According to the election schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is 27 September, scrutiny will take place on 29 September, and the last date for withdrawal is 7 October.

Electoral symbols will be allocated on 8 October and voting will be held on 29 October.

If he passes the Election Commission’s scrutiny, Mirza Faisal Amin is likely to receive the party’s final nomination.

Mirza Faisal Amin is a former mayor of Thakurgaon municipality and previously served as general secretary of Thakurgaon district BNP. He also sought the party nomination in the last parliamentary election.

His father, Mirza Ruhul Amin, was also involved in politics and served as a member of parliament and minister in the Ershad government.

Speaking after the meeting, BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “Today’s Standing Committee meeting was essentially the Nomination Board meeting. The Thakurgaon-1 seat became vacant, where our MP was President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The election in that seat is taking place on 29 October. Nomination forms must be submitted to the Election Commission by 27 September. We have conducted interviews. The decision will be announced later.”