In the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ will not appear on ballots in eight constituencies out of 300. The party has allocated 11 seats to its alliance partners, with seven of them contesting under their own party symbols. Additionally, four candidates who recently joined BNP from other parties will compete under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol. The court has also cancelled the nomination of BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi in Cumilla-4 due to loan default, leaving that seat without a BNP candidate.

A hearing is scheduled today on an appeal regarding the candidacy of BNP’s Sarwar Alamgir in Chattogram-2. If his nomination is cancelled, the number of constituencies without the BNP symbol could rise to nine. BNP sources said the party reached an electoral understanding with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, leaving four seats for its candidates, while other alliance partners such as Ganosamhati Andolon, Revolutionary Workers Party, and Gana Odhikar Parishad are contesting under their own symbols.

Several leaders from other parties, including Dr. Redwan Ahmed, Fariduzzaman Farhad, Bobby Hajjaj, and Muhammad Rashed Khan, have joined BNP to contest under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol.