Photo : Collected
In a surprising turn of events, the ruling Awami League in Bangladesh has decided not to provide its party symbol, the Nouka (Boat), to its members for the upcoming upazila parishad elections scheduled to be held in March. However, party insiders suggest that high-ranking officials may endorse selected candidates to contest independently in an effort to promote a more inclusive and transparent electoral process.
The decision was disclosed by party sources who revealed that a joint meeting is scheduled to take place at the official residence of the party president, Sheikh Hasina, in Ganobhaban in mid-February. This meeting, expected to occur on either February 10 or February 12, will be attended by grassroots leaders, particularly district and upazila unit AL presidents and secretaries. The purpose of the meeting is for Sheikh Hasina to provide necessary guidance and directives to the party's grassroots leaders.
Awami League Joint General Secretary BM Mozammel Haque addressed the matter, stating, "To provide essential guidance regarding the upcoming upazila elections, our party leader, Sheikh Hasina, plans to convene a meeting with grassroots leaders at her official residence, Ganobhaban, in the near future. However, the exact date for the joint meeting has not been finalised yet."
Insiders suggest that the party may indirectly support its chosen candidates in the local body elections. A Joint General Secretary, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the possibility that the party leadership might approve selected candidates for participation.
Furthermore, the Awami League has taken a groundbreaking non-partisan approach to ensure the upazila parishad elections are free, fair, credible, and competitive. This departure from traditional party practices is aimed at promoting inclusivity and transparency in local governance.
However, challenges lie ahead as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and several other parties have announced their intention to boycott the elections, posing a new obstacle for the ruling party.
The upcoming upazila parishad elections, scheduled for March, mark a strategic shift as candidates will be nominated by political parties for the first time. This move is intended to encourage active participation from various political entities and enhance the democratic environment to improve voter turnout.
The decision comes in the wake of criticism surrounding the last general elections, where low voter turnout drew negative attention both locally and internationally. Acknowledging the impact of this criticism, Awami League insiders state that it played a significant role in steering the party toward a non-partisan approach for the upcoming local body elections.
To ensure a competitive electoral landscape, the ruling party is actively encouraging opposition BNP members and grand alliance allies to contest independently, departing from the usual coalition strategy. The Awami League is keen on avoiding a repeat of one-sided elections and anticipates potential violence if only their candidates participate. Party insiders express a strong desire for law enforcement to play a stern role in maintaining order during the elections.
In response to queries, Awami League Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak affirmed, "Our primary goal is to ensure that the upcoming local body elections are conducted in a free, fair, and competitive manner, enabling candidates from all political parties to participate without fear of intimidation." Nanak emphasised that this initiative reflects the party's dedication to fortifying local governance and upholding democratic principles at the grassroots level.
Besides, the main opposition BNP on Thursday announced it would not join any election held under the present government and with the present election commission.
In an interview with this correspondent, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP, asserted, "We will abstain from participating in any election under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, as past elections lacked the qualities of being free, fair, and credible, and we anticipate a recurrence of similar circumstances in the future."
Rizvi also commented on the ruling Awami League's decision to conduct the upcoming upazila parishad elections in a non-partisan manner, suggesting that it stemmed from the rejection of their party symbol, the Nouka (Boat), by the people of the country.
However, he added that any grassroots leader from the BNP intending to participate in the local body polls would be required to resign from the party.
There are 492 upazilas in the country and the election will be held in five phases in 481 upazilas. The election commission plans to conduct the polls in four phases in 464 upazilas within March while the rest will be carried out after Eid-al-Fitr.
All the 14 allies of the Awami League took part separately in all the local government elections except a few city corporation polls earlier. They will join the upazila polls separately again.
In the 2019 upazila parishad elections across 473 upazilas, candidates affiliated with the ruling Awami League clinched victory in 320 chairmanship positions, with 115 uncontested. Out of these, 136 individuals, running as independent candidates, emerged victorious, the majority of whom were supporters or leaders of the Awami League.
Messenger/Fameema
