The BNP is left with no candidates in Bogura-7, considered to be a party stronghold, after election officials rejected nominations of party chief Khaleda Zia as well as of the backup candidate.

BNP picked Gabtoli Upazila Parishad Chairman Morshed Milton as an alternative while Shahjahanpur Upazila Parishad Chairman Sarkar Badal emerged as a renegade filing nominations as an independent aspirant for the seat.

On Sunday (Dec 2), Bogura returning officer rejected both Milton and Badal’s nominations.

A total of 11 aspirants filed nominations to run on the 11th parliamentary election, of which seven have been rejected.

Ruling Awami League has not fielded a candidate, leaving the seat for its ally in the Grand Alliance Jatiya Party, which picked incumbent MP Muhammad Altaf Ali as its candidate.

Meanwhile, another candidate of the HM Ershad-led party, Aminul Islam Sarkar Pintu has been cleared for the Bogura- 7 race.

The returning officer has also given the green light to Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, who is running on the Islami Andolon’s ticket.