Photo: Messenger
Faced with an existential crisis due to not participating in the January 7 parliamentary polls, the root-level leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are now pressing for participation in the upazila parishad elections regardless of their party decision.
The leaders, pointing out that they have fallen into an existential crisis due to not participating in the January 7 national elections, argue that for the sake of protecting their political careers, they should now come closer to the people. This is why, the upazila-level leaders are willing to participate in the upcoming upazila parishad elections.
It is learned that the root-level leaders have already started pressuring the center on this issue. This attitude was observed in the reporter’s conversations with BNP leaders from 14 upazilas in different areas of the country. However, the central level is still steadfast in its decision not to participate in the upazila parishad elections.
A top leader of Jhenaidah district BNP, who did not want to be named, told The Daily Messenger, “The party has been out of power for almost 17 years. In this situation, the political career of many of us is already under threat. As a result, even if we boycotted the national elections, we want to participate in the local government elections. Thus, the party’s engagement with the people will increase.”
According to party sources within the BNP, after boycotting the 12th national parliamentary elections, BNP finds itself in a dilemma regarding the upazila parishad elections. Although there was a policy decision not to participate in any election under Sheikh Hasina, most party leaders now favour participating in this local government election under the changed circumstances.
Meanwhile, the party’s highest policy-making forum, the national standing committee, recently had an indefinite discussion on the matter, but no final decision was reached. Two opposing views exist within the party regarding participation in local government elections. Suggestions are coming from various levels of the party, including the root level, putting pressure on the centre to go to the elections. A vocal section is in favour of participating at the central level as well.
Some upazila-level leaders, who preferred to remain unnamed, told The Daily Messenger that upazila elections are local government elections, not elections for a change in government. Their main target is the change of state power through agitation. Therefore, there should not be any problem in local government elections. Additionally, the Awami League has announced not to field candidates in this election, increasing the chances of BNP's local-level leaders winning.
These BNP leaders feel that, even if the party ultimately decides to boycott the election, the election process should be open to everyone in the party, especially those who wish to be candidates, to prevent any organisational action against anyone participating in the election.
However, a faction within the BNP that opposes taking part in the upcoming Upazila elections under the Sheikh Hasina government is quite strong. They argue that, since the BNP boycotted the 12th parliamentary elections, participating in Upazila elections under the Sheikh Hasina government in just three to three and a half months will send the wrong message to leaders, activists, and supporters nationwide. Many might perceive a two-pronged stance by the party.
In this regard, Selima Rahman, a standing committee member of BNP, told The Daily Messenger, “Root-level leaders and activists aspire to become member-chairman of the union, upazila chairman-vice chairman. Therefore, their aspirations are not realised unless they are in the electoral process. However, thousands of our activists are currently in prison, and we are working to free them quickly.”
Central leaders of BNP think that there will be no benefit even if they go to the polls because the vote will not be fair. They fear that, as in the past, BNP candidates will be defeated by force. Moreover, BNP leaders and activists may face attacks and arrests around the polls to maintain single supremacy in upazilas, similar to parliamentary elections.
BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told The Daily Messenger, “No election will ever be peaceful, credible, and fair under Sheikh Hasina’s government. Therefore, the decision has already been made that BNP will not participate in any election under her. BNP is still adamant about that decision.”
Messenger/Disha
