SAJJAD HOSSAIN

BNP is facing growing backlash from its grassroots over its recently announced nominee list for the upcoming election, posing a fresh challenge to the party.

Since unveiling candidates for 237 constituencies on November 3, local leaders and activists in nearly three dozen seats have started protesting, demanding nominations for their preferred candidates.

Before finalising the list, the BNP high command held meetings with thousands of district leaders who pledged support for the party’s choices. However, many are now defying acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s directive to maintain discipline and joining protests.

In response, BNP has expelled at least nine leaders from the party and its affiliated organisations in two districts for participating in demonstrations.

According to party sources, BNP has engaged independent organisations to assess grassroots acceptance of its nominees.

Since November 3, at least 38 protests and clashes have been reported across 26 districts, with activists blocking roads and railways. At least 30 party activists were injured in Meherpur, Cumilla, and Mymensingh.

A day after the announcement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged leaders who were

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