As the 13th parliamentary election heats up, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) allies are grappling with an unexpected headache rebel candidates from within the BNP itself.
The BNP has allocated 16 seats to alliance partners, but in at least 12 constituencies, BNP leaders denied the party's Sheaf of Paddy symbol are contesting as independents. Branded "rebels" by the party, they defied central decisions and stayed in the race despite clear organisational orders.
Though expelled, these candidates remain firmly on the campaign trail, leaning heavily on grassroots networks built over years. Door-to-door canvassing and local meetings have become their main weapons, as they bank on personal loyalty rather than party backing.
Despite expulsions, committee suspensions and even dissolutions of local units, large sections of BNP's grassroots leadership continue to support rebel contenders. In some constituencies, alliance nominees are finding it nearly impossible to mobilise a united BNP base-turning rebels into what party insiders call a "thorn in the throat" for allied candidates.
Party sources say nearly 70 BNP leaders nationwide are now contesting as independents after missing out on nominations. Their presence has split the party's grassroots vote in many areas. While current office-holders are officially campaigning for alliance candidates under central directives, former leaders, activists and ordinary supporters are largely siding with rebels.
In some cases, even sitting leaders are quietly backing them to avoid disciplinary fallout.
With the withdrawal deadline over, the BNP leadership is scrambling to politically neutralise rebel candidates. Insiders fear that if the grassroots divide persists until polling day, alliance prospects could suffer serious damage.
Most rebel candidates are former upazila-level leaders with deep organisational roots. Having built and controlled local committees for years, they wield strong influence over activists-many of whom are openly campaigning against alliance nominees.
However, recent expulsions have begun to reshape the battlefield in some areas. After an initial surge of support for independents, sustained pressure from the central leadership-particularly BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's district-level campaign appearances-has gradually shifted momentum toward alliance candidates. By publicly introducing alliance nominees as the official Sheaf of Paddy contenders, Tarique Rahman has pushed expelled leaders further to the margins.
Political observers say this symbolic sidelining has, in some cases, proved more effective than formal expulsions, slowly redirecting grassroots loyalty.
In Dhaka-12, a key industrial constituency, BNP handed the seat to Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque. But former Dhaka North BNP convener Saiful Alam Nirob, now an independent after his December 30 expulsion, remains a formidable challenger with visible BNP grassroots backing.
In Brahmanbaria-6 (Bancharampur), Ganosamhati Andolon leader Zonayed Saki faces stiff resistance from expelled BNP candidate Saiduzzaman Kamal. While some BNP leaders openly support Kamal, others do so discreetly-making him a serious obstacle for the alliance.
In Patuakhali-3, independent candidate Hasan Mamun continues to dominate the grassroots despite BNP backing Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur. Repeated mediation efforts and committee dissolutions have failed to erode Mamun's local support.
In Brahmanbaria-2, BNP-backed Jamiat nominee Maulana Junayed Al Habib is locked in a tough contest with expelled BNP leaders Barrister Rumin Farhana and Tarun Dey, both running independently. Strong grassroots momentum behind Rumin Farhana has complicated alliance calculations.
Similar fault lines are visible in Narail-2, Kishoreganj-5, Jessore-5, Cumilla-7, Jhenaidah-4 and Habiganj-1, where expelled BNP figures continue to command local loyalty, leaving alliance candidates struggling for full organisational backing.
By contrast, constituencies such as Lakshmipur-1, Nilphamari-1, Dhaka-13 and Bhola-1 remain largely free of rebel challenges, offering smoother ground for alliance campaigns.
Analysts say the rebellion reflects a long-standing clash between centralised nominations and entrenched local leadership within the BNP. While disciplinary action has curbed open defiance in some areas, grassroots loyalty remains the decisive factor.
As polling day nears, whether the BNP can fully consolidate its base-or whether rebel candidates continue to bleed votes-may shape outcomes across multiple constituencies.
