The Bangladesh Minority Janta Party (BMJP), the primary political entity advocating for the Hindu community in Bangladesh's electoral arena, has submitted nomination papers for a significantly reduced number of candidates. The party, which initially aimed to contest 91 seats, could only file nominations for 28 candidates as the final deadline passed on Monday.
Challenges in Candidate Mobilisation
BMJP president Sukriti Kumar Mandal, speaking to TOI from Dhaka, revealed the immense difficulties faced in rallying potential candidates. The hurdles were not limited to the fear of fundamentalist backlash. A critical shortage of time to compile the necessary documentation for filing nominations posed a major obstacle. A party leader further explained that most prospective candidates could not arrange the required 50,000 Taka election deposit or produce essential papers like bank account details.
Scrutiny Over Awami League Links
Mandal highlighted an additional layer of complexity due to the suspended registration of the ruling Awami League. For each BMJP candidate, he had to provide a formal undertaking confirming they were not former members of Sheikh Hasina's party. "We were careful that none of the candidates was earlier from Awami League, or else I would face legal action," Mandal stated. This restriction forced the party to rely on fresh political faces, compounding their challenges.
Internal Rifts and Uncertain Outcome
The BMJP chief also pointed to a lack of support from within the community itself. He alleged that a section of established Hindu leaders worked against the party due to ego clashes, rather than offering backing. With the nomination process complete, the focus now shifts to scrutiny by returning officers. Mandal expressed uncertainty about the acceptance of their filings, noting officers might find faults. The final outcome is expected to be clear by January 2.
The party had strategically chosen constituencies with a sizable Hindu population, originally hoping to win about half of the 91 seats it planned to contest. The drastic shortfall in filed nominations underscores the severe operational and security challenges faced by minority-centric parties in the current political climate of Bangladesh.
