The ruling Awami League has heaved a sigh of relief after the completion of the first phase of the Upazila Parishad polls without major violence.
Many, including the intelligence agencies, feared that acts of violence, including killing, might take place during the first phase of the UZ polls.
But, the elections were held relatively in a peaceful manner excluding some sporadic clashes and some other irregularities.
“Many apprehended that the elections would end amid killing and bloodshed. But, there is no incident of killing across the country during the polls,” AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said.
Before the polls, the intelligence agencies placed their findings before the Election Commission. They feared violent activities in 78 places in the first phase.
Such apprehension came to the fore as the offspring and kin of the lawmakers, ministers and influential leaders of the ruling party were participating in the upazila polls, defying the directives issued by top brass of the Awami League.
The AL earlier decided not to field any candidate with the Boat symbol aiming at making the polls a competitive one. But, the plan of the top brass was foiled as the majority of the political parties boycotted the polls.
The participation of the offspring and kin of the lawmakers, ministers and influential leaders of the ruling party turned the polls mostly an AL affair.
Like in the past, major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party stayed off the race and expelled its leaders for participating in the polls. But, at least 27 grassroots leaders of the party vied for the post of chairman, defying the directives of the high-command.
Main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party (Ershad) fielded candidates only in four upazilas while two candidates of JP (Manju) and each candidate of Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal took part in the first phase of UZ polls.
Sources said that at least seven expelled leaders of the BNP won the post of chairman out of 139 upazilas.
Of them, Abdul Quddus became victorious in Bandarban Sadar Upazila, Aminul Islam Badsha in Jhenaigathi in Sherpur, Ashraf Hossain Alim in Gomastapur, Anwar Hossain in Bholahat, Abdul Hamid in Haluaghat, Izadur Rahman Milon in Gazipur Sadar, and Sohel Ahmed Chowdhury in Biswanath Upazila.
