The BNP will extend support to Gonoforum candidates in three constituencies where its own nominees were cancelled by the Supreme Court.

In other constituencies where the BNP is facing a similar crisis, it is likely to extend its support to independents or candidates from other parties.

A total of 19 BNP candidates, including its chairperson Khaleda Zia, lost their candidacy following orders from the appellate and high court divisions of the Supreme Court in the last one week.

The candidates were rejected by the court on different grounds including defaulting on loans and holding an office of profit. Some were rejected because their resignations from the posts of upazila chairmen were not accepted by the government.

Gonoforum candidates in Jamalpur-1, Sylhet-2 and Manikganj-3 will get BNP support, insiders said.

The BNP leaders held a meeting at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office and took these decisions yesterday, they added.

In Sylhet, the Gonoforum held a rally in the evening.

Its President Dr Kamal Hossain addressed the crowd over phone and urged people to vote for Gonoforum candidate Mokabbir, who would run with the symbol of “Rising Sun” but represent the BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront.

Following a writ petition by the ruling Awami League-supported JP candidate for Sylhet-2 Yayha Chowdhury, the HC on December 13 cancelled the candidacy of Tahsina Rusdir.

The HC disqualified several upazila chairmen as the government did not accept their resignation from the post. According to the Representation of the People Order, anyone holding “an office of profit”, including that of an upazila chairman, cannot run for parliament.

Then the cancelled nominees went to the Appellate Division. The chamber judge of the division Justice Md Nuruzzaman upheld the HC orders that disqualified 11 candidates on different grounds.

The apex court chamber judge yesterday stayed an HC order that directed the EC to allow Amjad Hossain Sarker, chairman of Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari, to contest the election, Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Sazu told The Daily Star.

The BNP is now looking for independent or other party candidates behind whom it can throw its weight.

In Jamalpur-4, there is one candidate each from the BNF and Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB).

In Joypurhat-1, there are one independent and two BSD and IAB candidates.

In Jhenidah-2, there are two candidates from BSD and IAB.

In Rajshahi-5, there is a rebel BNP candidate.

In Rajshahi-6, Brahmanbaria-4 and Dhaka-20, there are three IAB candidates.

In Dhaka-1, there are one independent and two CPB and Biplobi Workers Party candidates.

In Chandpur-4, the BNP has two rebel candidates to choose from.

In Nilphamari-4, there are two independent candidates.

In Bogra-7, there are one independent and three Bangladesh NAP, NPP and BSD candidates.

In Bogra-3, there is one each from Biplobi Workers Party, IAB and BNF.

In Dinajpur-3, there is one each from IAB, CPB and Bangladesh Muslim League.

In Rangpur-5, there is one each from BSD and IAB.