Helal Uddin Munshi, a long-time Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and member of the Bauphal upazila convening committee, has joined Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The switch was announced at a local rally in Bauphal’s Suryamani Union, where Munshi formally joined hands with Jamaat candidate Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud. Following the announcement, the BNP expelled Munshi through an official statement signed by Bauphal BNP’s member secretary, Apel Mahmud Firoz.

Munshi, who had been active in BNP politics for 25 years, said he now intends to dedicate his life to serving Islam under Jamaat’s banner. Local political observers believe his defection could strengthen Jamaat’s “balance scale” symbol in the Patuakhali-2 constituency, where BNP’s internal divisions have deepened. Jamaat leaders welcomed Munshi’s move, calling for unity to consolidate support ahead of the polls.

The development underscores shifting alliances in southern Bangladesh as parties recalibrate strategies before the upcoming election, potentially altering voter alignments in key constituencies.