In a major move, ruling Awami League has directed the offspring and kin of the ministers and party lawmakers to stay off the Upazila Parishad polls to be held in four phases.
It has also issued a note of warning for taking special organisational actions if anyone of them participates in the polls or any minister or lawmaker extends support to them defying the directives of the top brass of the party, said a senior leader.
The leaders in charge of divisions are also making a list of ministers’ and party lawmakers’ offspring and kin who have already filed nominations to contest the first phase of polls slated for May 8 and are keeping eyes on them, said the leader.
Organising Secretary SM Kamal Hossain told reporters that the party took this decision.
“At the instruction of party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, general secretary Obaidul Quader has directed us on the issue. We are conveying the message to our respective divisions,” he said.
AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said that such decision was taken to end intra-party conflict and make the election a participatory one.
“The Prime Minister has given the instruction so that none can mar the poll atmosphere,” he said.
After taking a decision of not fielding any candidate with Boat symbol, the AL has long been asking the ministers and party lawmakers not to meddle in the UZ polls as it wants to have the elections to be held in a free, fair and neutral manner.
Sources in the AL say that Party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has become annoyed on the meddling of the MPs and ministers in the UZ polls defying the party decision.
Amid reports on interference of MPs and ministers in the UZ polls, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday held an unofficial meeting with the organising secretaries and directed them to pass the party decision to the leaders concerned.
Organising Secretaries, including Mirza Azam SM Kamal Hossain, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon and Afzal Hossain and Office Secretary Biplab Barua, deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present at the meeting.
Organising Secretary Afzal Hossain told reporters that party general secretary Obaidul Quader gave a message that offspring and kin of the ministers and lawmakers cannot participate in the UZ polls.
“Organisational action will be taken if anybody takes part in the polls or any MP or minister extends support to them by breaching the party discipline,” he said.
Sources said, being instructed, the organising secretaries of concerned divisions immediately phoned Madaripur Sadar MP and AL presidium member Shajahan Khan and Noakhali MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury to share the party decision.
Offspring of the two MPs have become candidates in the two areas and the MPs are working for them.
At a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee on January 22, the AL took the decision not to nominate any candidate with the boat symbol to avert brewing commotion in the grassroots.
But, a section of ministers and MPs in their respective areas are fielding their offspring and kin in vital posts of the UZ polls, party insiders said.
As a result, incidents of violence and even abduction of candidate were staged in some areas and chain of command in the grassroots is at stake. Being the ministers and MPs, they have the scope to put influence on the local administrations. That’s why, the party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come up with the decision and asked the general secretary to carry out the message, they said.
Sources said that MPs and ministers are already meddling in the UZ polls and trying to create a ‘my men group’ to establish supremacy in their respective areas.
The UZ polls will be held in four phases and elections to 150 upazilas will be held in the first phase.
According to Election Commission sources, offspring and kin of MPs and ministers are contesting for the post of Chairman in 14 upazilas.
Media reported that Noakhali-4 constituency lawmaker Ekramul Karim Chowdhury issued a threat that the development activities will not be run if the voters refrain from casting votes in favour of his son for Subranachar Upazila.
An allegation has been raised against Lutful Kabir for abducting an aspirant in Natore.
Sources said, hearing such news, party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed serious resentment over such incidents. She then called on the general secretary and directed him to issue directives to the offspring and kin of the MPs and ministers to stay off the race.
Sources in the AL said, the second session of the 12th parliament begins on May 2. A meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party may be convened during the session.
The Prime Minister may present her stance on UZ polls to the ministers and lawmakers in that meeting.
Besides, the Awami League Central Working Committee, the highest policy making body of the party, may sit a meeting soon. The issue may be discussed in that meeting too.
Major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami have already decided to boycott the UZ polls.
AL insiders say that it was thought though the BNP-Jamaat boycotted the polls, a large number of grassroots leaders of those parties may participate in the polls.
“If the MPS and ministers meddle in the UZ polls, the voting atmosphere will be vitiated. That’s why, the central body is trying to ensure a congenial atmosphere so that voters go to polling centres in a large number and exercise their right of franchise,” said the leader on condition of anonymity.
Besides, on behalf of the government, directives have been given to the local administrations to discharge responsibilities neutrally so that the MPS and ministers cannot flex their muscle in the polls.