Bangladesh’s main opposition party BNP did not attend an all-party protest rally at Dhaka’s Shaheed Minar on Monday, organized by Inqilab Mancha to condemn the shooting of independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi. Although BNP leaders expressed solidarity over the phone, their absence drew attention as representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and other anti-government groups were present.

Party insiders said BNP avoided the event to prevent being drawn into controversy or provocation, especially after senior leader Mirza Abbas faced hostility while visiting Hadi earlier. Analysts noted that the party’s leadership wanted to avoid any incident that could disrupt the pre-election environment or link BNP to inflammatory speeches.

The rally featured strong anti-India rhetoric from former adviser Mahfuz Alam and NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, which observers said validated BNP’s caution. Political analysts believe the party’s restraint signals a strategic effort to maintain stability and distance itself from radical narratives ahead of the upcoming national election.