Besides, the party’s local units have also lent their support to 15 other independent and opposition candidates in as many constituencies where BNP candidates’ candidatures were annulled by the court.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan came up with the announcement at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
“The government was given 32 seats as a gift by the authorities concerned as our 16 candidates are in jail while candidatures of 16 others were declared invalid. We’re not centrally extending our support to any candidate in the vacant seats as our local units are doing it,” he said.
Asked whether they gave support to Salma Islam, Nazrul said they did it as there is no other alternative candidate of their party and alliance.
Businessman Salam F Rahman is contesting the election from Dhaka-1 seat with ruling party ticket while Salma Islam, wife of Jamuna Group chairman Nurul Islam Babul, as an independent candidate as she did not get nomination from either Jatiya Party or the Grand Alliance. Salam was elected MP in 2014 from the same seat with Jatiya Party ticket.
BNP nominated Dohar upazila parishad chairman Khandker Abu Ashfaq as its candidate, but the apex court revoked his candidature as his resignation from the chairman post was not accepted.