Rashed Khan, former General Secretary of the Ganadhikar Parishad, has formally joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) after resigning from his position in the civil society organisation. The announcement was made at a ceremonial event held on Saturday, 27 December, at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. During the ceremony, Rashed Khan presented flowers to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, symbolising his official induction into the party.
Speaking at the event, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed that Rashed Khan would contest the upcoming parliamentary election as the BNP’s nominated candidate for the Jhenaidah-4 constituency, which includes parts of Kaliganj and the Sadar area. He will stand under the BNP’s electoral symbol, the “paddy sheaf” (ধানের শীষ). Fakhrul urged all party members and supporters to provide Rashed with full backing during the campaign.
The Ganadhikar Parishad, the organisation from which Rashed Khan resigned, granted its approval for him to join BNP for electoral purposes. As part of the strategic alliance between the two organisations, Rashed Khan will represent BNP in the Jhenaidah-4 constituency while retaining the unified political vision developed during their collaborative movement against the previous government.
Ganadhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur told the media on Friday night that their movement had been a collective effort against authoritarian governance. “We have fought together to bring down fascist rule, and we are committed to building a new Bangladesh post-authoritarianism,” he said. Nur emphasised that while they will contest elections through different party symbols, their alliance remains firm, and the shared goal of establishing a national government in the future continues to guide their strategy.
Rashed Khan’s resignation from Ganadhikar Parishad is part of this strategic coordination. The organisation plans to appoint an acting General Secretary in his place shortly.
Key Details of Rashed Khan’s BNP Candidacy:
| Name | Previous Position | Constituency | Party Symbol | Party Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashed Khan | General Secretary, Ganadhikar Parishad | Jhenaidah-4 | Paddy Sheaf (ধানের শীষ) | Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) |
Rashed Khan’s entry into BNP is expected to strengthen the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections, particularly in areas where collaborative movements against past governance have built substantial grassroots support.