A total of 152 upazilas across the country will go to polls in the first phase on May 8. There are 492 upazilas in the country.
The upazila elections will take place in four phases. Elections in the second phase will be held on May 23, in the third phase on May 29, and in the fourth phase on June 5.
Therefore, election euphoria is already visible across the country. The Election Commission has already proved its impartiality, boldness and capability by holding free, fair and credible January 7 national parliamentary elections this year.
Therefore, we hope the upazila polls will also be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. The ruling Awami League has decided not to field party candidates and so, it will not allocate the party’s poll symbol ‘boat’ in any local government body polls, including the elections to city corporations, municipalities, and upazila parishads.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which boycotted the national election, has now decided not to join the upazila parishad polls under the current government. Awami League wants to entice the grassroots leaders of the opposition parties, including BNP, into the electoral race.
Awami League also wants to allow new and popular second-tier party leaders to contest the polls. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has already asked the party leaders, ministers, and lawmakers to refrain from interfering in the upazila parishad election and not to be involved in any activity that would destroy the neutrality of the upcoming upazila parishad
elections.
Election euphoria
is already visible
across the country
So, we can expect the opinions of the countrymen will be reflected in the upcoming upazila elections, as the voters will exercise their franchise freely. The administration and the law enforcers will perform their duties with neutrality.
Actions should be taken if anyone tries to illegally interfere in the election process. In the wake of massive violence and hooliganism across the country during the elections to city corporations, municipalities, upazila parishads and union parishads in the past, the Awami League has taken the decision not to allocate the party’s poll symbol ‘Boat’.
In the last 10 years, leaders of the AL and its associate organisations got involved in internal feuds centring the local body elections. Many people, mostly activists of the AL, were killed and many injured in separate clashes between supporters of rival candidates in different districts during the upazila and UP polls.
Attacks and exchange of fire in the past over local body elections became a daily affair while people got panicked. On the other hand, candidates who want to contest different local body polls have already started passing their hectic days through polls campaigning at their respective areas.
They have started showdown through meetings and mass contacts. We all want the upcoming upazila election violence-free.
All candidates in the upcoming upazila polls need to demonstrate commitment to have a free, fair and violence-free election. If they (all aspirants) make such a commitment, only then we can expect a free and fair election.
