Nomination Forms Collected for Begum Zia and Tarique Rahman

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) officially initiated the election process for its top leadership, collecting nomination forms for its Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election 2026 and the historic Referendum. 

On this day around 1:30 pm, former Member of Parliament (MP) Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu, the election coordinator for Begum Zia, collected the nomination form on behalf of her around for the Bogura-7 constituency from the election office located on Gohail Road in Bogura town.

Senior BNP leaders and activists were also present during the time.

Helaluzzaman noted that the former Prime Minister has a historic connection to the seat, having been elected from this constituency for three consecutive terms. 

He expressed high optimism, stating that local voters are eagerly waiting to cast their ballots in her favor once again.

Earlier in the day at around 12:30 pm, Bogura district BNP President Rezaul Karim Badsha collected the nomination form for Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman for the Bogura-6 constituency. 

The form was collected from the office of Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Taufiqur Rahman.

Rezaul Karim described Tarique Rahman’s candidacy as a 'matter of pride' for the district, asserting that the party expects an overwhelming mandate from the people of Bogura.

Several senior BNP leaders including BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Advocate AKM Mahbubur Rahman, former MP and Bogura-5 constituency candidate GM Siraj, former District BNP President Saiful Islam, former General Secretary Joynal Abedin Chan, District BNP Acting General Secretary Mosharraf Hossain, Town BNP President Hamidul Haque Chowdhury Hiru, and Sadar Upazila BNP President Maftun Ahmed Khan Rubel were present during the collection of nomination form.    

A large number of party leaders and activists also were present. 

Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will vie for three constituencies -- Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7 and Feni-1 while BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will contest in Bogura-6 seat in the upcoming polls, scheduled to be held is scheduled for February 12 next year. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday revised the schedule for filing and resolving appeals against returning officers' decisions regarding nomination papers for the polls, shortening the filing period by two days to run from January 5 to 9 instead of the original January 5–11 timeline. 

Consequently, the period for disposing of these appeals has been extended, now set for January 10 to 18 rather than the previously announced January 12–18 window. 

According to the standing election schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers remains December 29, with the scrutiny of these documents scheduled to take place from December 30 to January 4. 

Candidates will have until January 20 to withdraw their candidacy before election symbols are officially allocated on January 21.

The elections and referendum are slated for February 12, with voting occurring between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm via transparent ballot boxes. 

These adjustments follow the initial election schedule announcement by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on December 11 and the subsequent issuance of the revised notification by the Commission on December 18.