Dhaka: Former State Minister for Information, Professor Abu Sayeed, has officially joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He marked his entry into the party by presenting a bouquet to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chairman’s office in Gulshan, as confirmed by BNP Media Cell Member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Professor Abu Sayeed previously met with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman before making his decision public. Prof Sayeed cited the increasing extremism in the country as a motivating factor for his decision, expressing his belief that BNP is the party best positioned to address these concerns. He emphasized his commitment to the cause by joining the BNP and running as an independent candidate in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election from the Pabna-1 constituency.

Prof Sayeed, a veteran politician, was a member of the Pakistan National Assembly in 1970 and contributed to the drafting of Bangladesh’s constitution. He served as a member of parliament for Pabna-1 in 1973 and 1996, during which he was appointed State Minister for Information under the Awami League government. Despite being a prominent figure, he did not secure an Awami League nomination after the political changes of 1/11 and ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate in subsequent elections.

In the 11th parliamentary election in 2018, Prof Sayeed contested the Pabna-1 seat as part of the BNP-led alliance Jatiya Oikyafront but did not win. His recent decision to join BNP marks a significant shift in his political journey as he continues to engage in the political landscape of Bangladesh.