Dhaka, Jan. 6 -- With the BNP struggling to rein in rebel candidates despite repeated warnings and organisational efforts, party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to hold meetings with them in a last-ditch bid to persuade withdrawals from key constituencies where BNP and its alliance partners have fielded official candidates.

Senior BNP leaders said they tried various ways to convince rebel candidates contesting in nearly 50 seats, but failed in most cases, leaving direct intervention by Tarique Rahman as the only option to persuade them to withdraw their nominations by January 20.

Apart from rebel candidates, BNP leaders said the party is also concerned about many nomination aspirants who were denied tickets. Some of them have rema...