BNP is facing growing backlash from its grassroots over its recently announced nominee list for the upcoming election, posing a fresh challenge to the party.

Since unveiling candidates for 237 constituencies on November 3, local leaders and activists in nearly three dozen seats have started protesting, demanding nominations for their preferred candidates.

Before finalising the list, the BNP high command held meetings with thousands of district leaders who pledged support for the party's choices. However, many are now defying acting chairman Tarique Rahman's directive to maintain discipline and joining protests.

In response, BNP has expelled at least nine leaders from the party and its affiliated organisations in two districts for participating in demonstrations.

According to party sources, BNP has engaged independent organisations to assess grassroots acceptance of its nominees.

Since November 3, at least 38 protests and clashes have been reported across 26 districts, with activists blocking roads and railways. At least 30 party activists were injured in Meherpur, Cumilla, and Mymensingh.

A day after the announcement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged leaders who were not nominated to remain patient, assuring them of "due respect and responsibility" within the party.

According to party insiders, the nomination list was made after five surveys conducted by Tarique's own team. Then the senior leaders met with the aspirants and held talks. The BNP high command also held a meeting with thousands of grassroots leaders at the chairperson's office in Gulshan in September where all pledged to follow party's decision.

Political analysts say the unrest has grown due to a lack of a fair and transparent nomination process, warning that failure to control it could harm the party's election performance.

Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman of Jahangirnagar University said poor coordination and weak communication between the top leadership and grassroots organisers worsened the situation.

"Since Tarique Rahman is not in Dhaka and is communicating with leaders virtually, the outcome has not been satisfactory, as face-to-face discussions are crucial in such matters," he said.

He said the party also ignored RPO provisions, fuelling further resentment.

A BNP standing committee member, speaking anonymously, said the party is reviewing controversial nominations and will take action after completing the process. BNP leaders are also engaging with agitating local leaders to restore unity.

"The party is continuing talks with district leaders where protests have erupted, and we have already reviewed several applications seeking changes to nominees. We will calm the situation soon and take strict action against anyone who defies the party's decision," he said.

In Satkhira, protests continued for a fourth consecutive day after the announcement, with local activists demanding that the party replace its nominated candidate for the Satkhira-3 seat with Shahidul Alam, a member of the BNP's central executive committee.

Protesters blocked roads and highways and even observed a half-day strike on November 4.

Similar demonstrations occurred in Madaripur, Tangail, Cumilla, Meherpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Natore.

In Mymensingh's Gauripur upazila, a local Chhatra Dal activist died of a heart attack, and at least eight others were injured in clashes between supporters of BNP nominee M Iqbal Hossain and Tyabur Rahman Hiron, who did not get nomination; five leaders were expelled.

In Cumilla, ten people were injured in clashes between supporters of Abul Kalam and Samira Azim Dola during a political event.

In Gaibandha, authorities imposed Section 144 to prevent a showdown between rival factions led by nominee Faruk Alam and local leader Nahiduzzaman Nishat. In Chattogram, supporters of Aslam Chowdhury blocked both the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and the railway line at Sitakunda over party leader Kazi Salah Uddin's nomination for Chattogram-4.

In Madaripur, supporters of BNP leader Kamal Zaman, whose nomination was suspended on November 4, marched on the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway demanding reinstatement of his candidacy.

Similar incidents were reported from Kushtia, Rangpur, Tangail, Magura, Natore, Naogaon, Munshiganj, Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Sylhet, Faridpur, Rajshahi, and Brahmanbaria.

Political analyst Prof Mojibur Rahman of Dhaka University said BNP must take a firmer stance to restore discipline.

"Internal disorder must be resolved within the party, but it should not cause public suffering," he said.