Before the 12th National Assembly elections, the court hastily sentenced popular BNP leaders in one case after another. Despite the hasty sentencing, the judges did not write the judgement. The bail of the convicted leaders is being delayed because a certified copy of the judgement is required for the bail application. However, the party's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has instructed the party's lawyers to secure bail for the sentenced leaders. BNP party lawyers mentioned this while talking to Bangra Outlook.

BNP's International Affairs Secretary and party lawyer, Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, informed Bangla Outlook, "Court proceedings are taking place at night outside the scheduled office hours before the election. This was done to punish the leaders quickly. Unfortunately, the judges did not write the verdict even though the matter was quickly sentenced. Now, when the party's lawyers applied to the court for a certified copy of the judgement, they were informed that the judgement was not written. This is, in fact, another attempt by the court at the behest of the government. It may be done to prevent leaders on bail from returning to normal life promptly. Nevertheless, our efforts are ongoing to reintegrate the leaders who escaped after being punished by the court back into normal life."

When asked about the party's stance on the sentenced leaders and what actions they plan to take, the Vice Chairman of BNP, Md. Shahjahan, told Outlook, "There are no specific instructions to surrender the convicted leaders in court. However, the sentenced leaders can discuss the situation with the party lawyers and make their own decision after reviewing the overall situation."

Before the 12th National Assembly elections, BNP leaders were systematically sentenced in various old cases. According to information from the party's office, 1,687 leaders and activists were handed down sentences in more than 100 cases over the last five months. These individuals include leaders from the ward level to standing committee members. In multiple cases, some leaders have received sentences ranging from 5 to 17 years and 8 months. Certain convicted leaders are currently incarcerated, while others are in hiding. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a party's standing committee member, is reported to be out of the country. These convicted leaders held strategic positions before the election, and despite the lack of a post-election political programme, some remain in hiding.

Some of the convicted leaders actively participated in street programs for one or more days before the elections. Among them, BNP Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel, BNP Assistant Volunteer Affairs Secretary Abdul Quader Bhuiyan Jewel , Juba Dal President Sultan Salauddin Tuku, and Executive Committee Member Akramul Hasan Mintu were observed in the street programmes.

Ishaq Sarkar, the organising secretary of Jubo Dal, received a sentence of 17 years and 8 months in six cases before the 12th National Assembly elections. Abdul Quader Bhuiyan Jewel, the court sentenced him to 15 years and three months in five cases in the last three months among the cases filed against BNP volunteer affairs co-editor.

Before the election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed his apprehension: "The government has entered the field with a 'terrible plan.' We have heard that about 13,500 cases have been identified, which they will hear and sentence before the election."

By the constitution, a person becomes ineligible for election if sentenced to at least two years in a criminal case. For this reason, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia could not participate in the 2018 national elections.

Convicted leaders who have been granted bail

In connection with the incident of setting fire to a bus in front of the Jamuna Future Park in the Bhatara police station area of the capital, a case was filed by the police on January 4, 2015, at the Bhatara police station. In this case, on October 9 of the previous year, the court sentenced 15 individuals, including BNP Vice Chairman M Shahjahan and Advisor to the party's Chairperson Habibur Rahman Habib, to 4 years of imprisonment. Before the election, when they, along with other accused, surrendered to the court, they were not granted bail and were sent to jail. However, they were later released on bail before the election. Additionally, former Jatiya Party leader (Kazi Zafar) and former member of parliament Ahsan Habib Lincoln, BNP's co-publicity secretary Shamimur Rahman, and BNP leader Belal Ahmed, along with Monirul Haque, who was also incarcerated, have been released on bail.