The selection of a “political outsider” for the Jhenaidah-4 parliamentary seat has provoked an extraordinary display of theatre and defiance within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Sakib Hossain, a dedicated grassroots activist and security professional, chose to resign from the party on Thursday, 25th December, by performing a traditional act of public penance known as Nake Khot (rubbing the nose against the ground). This visceral demonstration, conducted behind the Sonali Bank in Kaliganj, was captured on video and has since gone viral, symbolising the growing rift between the party’s central command and its local cadres.
The source of the outrage is the nomination of Rashed Khan, the former General Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, who only recently joined the BNP. To many local workers, the decision to award the prestigious “Sheaf of Paddy” (Dhaner Sheesh) electoral symbol to a newcomer is a slight against the “frontline soldiers” who remained loyal to the party during years of political adversity. Sakib Hossain articulated this sentiment during his public resignation, arguing that the leadership had bypassed three established local “heavyweight” candidates who have a long history of supporting the rank and file.
“Rashed Khan is a stranger to Kaliganj,” Sakib declared. “He was never with us during our darkest days. The people here do not know him, and they will not vote for him, regardless of the symbol he carries.” He explained that his act of rubbing his nose against the earth was a sign of profound regret for his previous dedication to a party leadership that he feels has now abandoned its most loyal servants.
Snapshot of the Jhenaidah-4 Electoral Crisis
| Feature | Details of the Dispute |
| Constituency | Jhenaidah-4 (Kaliganj and partial Sadar) |
| Protester | Sakib Hossain (Local BNP Activist) |
| The Nominee | Rashed Khan (Former Gono Odhikar Parishad leader) |
| Type of Protest | Nake Khot (Symbolic act of nose-rubbing/penance) |
| Main Contention | Bypassing local stalwarts for an “outsider” |
| Local Response | Widespread threats of boycott and mass resignation |
The former Joint Convenor of the Upazila BNP, Iliyas Rahman Mithu, echoed these frustrations, noting that the grassroots are currently “shrouded in disappointment.” He warned that by ignoring candidates who have stood by the people of Kaliganj through “thick and thin,” the party is courting disaster at the polls. According to Mithu, thousands of workers share Sakib’s sense of betrayal, and the party’s electoral prospects in the region now hang in the balance as the local machinery begins to stall in protest.