BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed announced that those who submitted nomination papers as substitutes for the late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in her three constituencies will officially be the party’s candidates. He made the statement on Thursday, December 1, at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, while speaking to the media. Ahmed clarified that Khaleda Zia’s death would not affect the election process, as she passed away before the nomination scrutiny stage. He explained that if such an event had occurred after the allocation of symbols, legal complications could have delayed the election, but that situation does not apply now. Ahmed described Khaleda Zia as the “Mother of Democracy,” saying she remains in people’s hearts despite her passing. He noted that many joined her funeral prayers in absentia and that her lifelong struggle for democracy made her a global symbol of democratic leadership. Ahmed added that BNP would carry forward Khaleda Zia’s legacy of sacrifice and patriotism to build a strong, democratic, and equitable Bangladesh, reflecting the nation’s collective aspiration.