Rajshahi: A fresh wave of discord has surfaced inside the BNP in Rajshahi-1 (Tanore–Godagari) after party leader Advocate Sultanul Islam Tarek staged a dramatic protest rejecting the nomination of retired Major General Sharif Uddin, a heavyweight figure backed by the BNP’s top leadership.
Sharif Uddin—brother of late Barrister Aminul Haque, former Security Chief of President Ziaur Rahman, ex-Military Secretary to Begum Khaleda Zia, and a BNP Advisory Council member—received the party ticket for Rajshahi-1. His long service record includes multiple national and UN medals, though he was later forced into retirement under the Awami League government for alleged political involvement.
Tyre Burning, Road Blockade Over Nomination
Hours after the nomination list was finalized, Advocate Tarek, who was denied a ticket, set fire to tyres, blocked the Godagari–Tanore highway, and held a rally on November 15 demanding the withdrawal of Sharif Uddin’s nomination. He also pressed for reinstatement of his own candidacy.
The demonstration triggered widespread debate at the grassroots. Many BNP activists questioned why the protest came long after the nomination was officially announced and why so few leaders from the area’s 20 organisational units joined the rally.
Grassroots Reaction: ‘A Challenge to Party Leadership’
BNP activists at the local level have expressed concern that Tarek’s actions amount to defying the party’s chain of command. They argue that nominations are determined by the party’s policymaking bodies and ultimately finalized by Begum Khaleda Zia.
Several leaders pointed out that rejecting a candidate endorsed by the party chief is effectively a challenge to the chairperson’s authority. They questioned how a leader aspiring to represent the party could openly oppose the decision of the policy-making circle.
Observers also warned that if nominations were to be reversed through street protests, the party’s organisational discipline would collapse, encouraging others to defy leadership decisions.
Political Observers Comment
Local political analysts noted that BNP—one of Bangladesh’s largest political forces—has historically suffered whenever leaders broke ranks or opposed central decisions. They questioned the motivations behind Tarek’s sudden protest and whether external influences were at play.
No Comment from Tarek
Repeated attempts to contact Advocate Sultanul Islam Tarek for clarification were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone remained switched off.
