With only a few days to go for the 11th parliamentary election, BNP is struggling to select a candidate for Dinajpur-3 (Sadar) constituency due to internal feud between two nominated contenders.

According to party sources, Syed Zahangir Alam, joint convener of district BNP and also mayor of Dinajpur Municipality, and Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, joint convener of district BNP and also former Sadar upazila parishad chairman, got party nominations to contest the election.

Both of them filed their nomination papers on November 28.

During a scrutiny on December 2, Returning Officer (RO) Md Mahmudul Alam, also deputy commissioner of Dinajpur, had declared nomination papers of Dulal valid, but rejected those of Zahangir as he is holding the mayor post.

Zahangir appealed to the High Court and got back his candidacy on the final day of withdrawal on December 9.

A total of 34 contenders are in the race, the RO said.

BNP leaders and activists have been conducting the election campaign for the party nominated candidates in Dinajpur-3 constituency, defying the fear of arrests and harassment by law enforcers.

But everything fell silent yesterday after a High Court bench passed an order that candidates cannot take part in the 11th national election holding their mayoral posts.

Zahangir, however, said he is going to appeal for review against the order.

Seeking anonymity, many party leaders said there was a chance of hard contest in the constituency if Dulal got the candidacy. M Iqbalur Rahim, incumbent lawmaker and contender of Awami League (AL) from Dinajpur-3 constituency, said it is good for him.

There was hardly any election campaign of BNP in Dinajpur-3 constituency yesterday.

Abdul Halim, former acting president of district BNP, said, "The party is in a better position in the district. If the election is fair, we will win by big margins.”