Stay united, BNP asks nomination seekers

The four-day interview of the BNP's nomination seekers concluded on Wednesday night with the party nomination board's strong message to the party rank and file to remain united and ensure party's victory in the election by working for candidates whoever get its tickets.

The interview formally ended around 10:15pm with the interview of nomination seekers from different districts under Dhaka division at BNP chairperson's Gulshan.

Earlier in the day, the party nomination board, comprising its standing committee members, took the interview of 233 nomination seekers from Mymensingh and Faridpur divisions from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

Like the three previous days, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman joined the nomination board through a telecommunication app from the UK.

BNP started interviewing its nomination hopefuls to finalise the candidates who will contest the 11th parliamentary elections with its tickets on Sunday last with the interview of those who bought party nomination forms for Rangpur division's Panchagar-1 constituency at the same venue.

Talking to UNB, some aspirants said Tarique mainly asked them about their popularity in their respective areas, BNP's organisational strength and their contributions to the party.

He also gave the party's nomination hopefuls a guideline on how they should mobilise public support and ensure the victory of the party in the election.

BNP sold 4,580 nomination papers among the aspirants who want to contest the 11th parliamentary elections with its tickets.

The 11th parliamentary elections will be held on December 30. The last date for submission of nomination papers is November 28 instead of November 19.

Earlier in the day, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that all of those who faced interview are very tested and dedicated party leaders and they will put in their all-out efforts to ensure the party's victory in the election. "We believe the way we're getting response from people, we'll surely be able to remove the current autocratic regime."

Talking to UNB after the interview, the nomination hopefuls said they were given strong messages to stay united and refrain from intra-party conflicts and violence as the party wants to return to power through a credible and peaceful general election.

They also said they were instructed to get ready to resist any kind of vote fraud with their united efforts.

The nomination board also asked the party hopefuls to work for the candidates of their alliance partners with the same spirit and provide them all-out cooperation in the greater interest of the party and have their chairperson Khaleda Zia freed from jail.

The aspirants said they assured the board of staying away from infighting, and working together with a formidable spirit so that all the candidates of the 'Sheaf of Paddy', the BNP's election symbol, can come out successful.