Dhaka, Dec. 30 -- After seven years off the ballot, hundreds of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders sought the party's "sheaf of paddy" symbol - and many were refused. Now, in open defiance of the high command, just under 200 of them have filed nomination papers to run against BNP's own candidates in the crucial Feb 12 general election.

An analysis of filings from 63 districts outside Dhaka shows that around 179 BNP leaders have submitted nominations in 118 constituencies as independents or rivals to the officially endorsed candidates.

They include several former MPs as well as district and Upazila-level office bearers. Many lodged their papers on Monday, the final day for submissions under the election schedule, despite repeated...