Although the BNP has decided not to participate in the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections anymore under the party banner, many of the party members are taking part in the elections as independent candidates.
The party insiders said that the BNP has taken the strategy of not participating in the elections with the party-symbol, but they are not giving the contest without challenge. BNP participated in the recent municipal polls under the party banner, but the party this time decided not to participate in the UP polls as part of its political strategy.
A total of 323 unions from 63 upazilas of 20 districts will go to elections in the first phase of balloting to the lowest tier of the local government on April 11. March 18 was the last date for submission of nomination papers for the first phase. Many BNP leaders filed their nomination papers for chairman posts as independent candidates.
Elections to six UPs of Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur will be held in the first phase. Nine candidates submitted nomination papers for chairman post of No. 7 Betmore Razapara UP elections. BNP leaders Saifuddin Md Ferdous Romman and Md Khalilur Rahman are two chairman candidates in the UP polls.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post on March 19, the two BNP leaders said that although their party decided not to join the UP polls under the party banner, the party leaders (BNP) did not forbid the party men to participate in the elections as independent candidate.
Meanwhile, a total of 27 candidates submitted their nomination papers for six UP polls of Kathalia upazila in Jhalokati. Six of the candidates are BNP leaders.
Among them, organising secretary of Kathalia upazila BNP Md Akther Hossain submitted nomination papers for chairman post of Amua union, while Md Shahidul Islam at Pathikhalghata union and Advocate Fazle Rabbi Sohel at Shoulzalia union.
Md Akther Hossain said that once he was elected UP chairman as a non-party candidate. He doesn’t support party-banner in the local government elections. So, he is taking part in the UP polls as independent candidate, he added.
However, 12 Awami League leaders also submitted nomination papers for contesting in the position of chairman in the six unions of Kathalia upazila as independent candidates, said Upazila Election Officer of Kathalia and returning officer Md Abdur Rashid.
BNP leader Mosharraf Hossain submitted nomination papers as an independent candidate for Noarai Union Parishad elections at Chhatak upazila is Sunamganj. He said that the UP polls should be held under party banner. He, however, hopeful about his victory in the polls.
Election festive mood is now in the air as campaigners are seen busy seeking votes. The candidates of first phase of the polls submitted their nomination papers, while the aspirants of other phases became active as the polls to other Union Parishads will be held after Ramzan. Many probable candidates, including a number of BNP leaders, have already started unofficial election campaign.
Md Shahab Uddin, a former chairman of No. 7 Dakshin Banigram UP of Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet, is one of the BNP leaders who is a probable candidate in the UP polls to be held after Ramzan.
He said, “I took part in the last UP polls as BNP-nominated candidate. Although our party is boycotting the polls this time, I will join the polls as an independent candidate because people of my area want to see my role as chairman candidate.”
Of the about 4,500 Union Parishads across the country, more than 4,300 are eligible for polls this year. The elections in UP chairman post will see direct participation of political parties for the second time this year. However, the non-party candidates will take part in elections of member posts and reserved women seats.
