Khulna metropolitan Awami League has been cheerful since the announcement of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election schedule, whereas confusion and hesitancy prevails among local BNP activists.
The Election Commission announced on April 30 the schedule for KCC elections, to be held on June 15. One AL leader and two BNP leaders have already collected nomination papers for the mayor’s post. There are 29 councillor positions and 10 reserved councillor positions, for which 40 nomination papers have already been drawn.
Local BNP leaders are reluctant to leave the field to AL although the party’s high command has asked them not to participate in the elections. They say if necessary they might participate in the elections under the banner of Nagorik Forum, an NGO-backed organisation.
Khulna metropolitan AL president Talukder Abdul Khaleque was elected mayor in the last KCC election held in 2008.
Khaleque has once again been nominated by his party for candidacy. AL President Sheikh Hasina urged Khulna’s citizens to vote for Khaleque at a rally held on January 24 at the Khulna circuit house.
Khulna metropolitan BNP general secretary Moniruzzaman Moni and Khulna district BNP general secretary Sofikul Alam Mona have drawn nomination papers for mayorship, although it is not clear whether their parties will back either of them.
Moni was Khaleque’s closest contender in the 2008 election.
Several Khulna BNP activists told this correspondent that KCC was considered a BNP stronghold. They said BNP candidates had won every election except the election in 2008.
Moniruzzaman Moni said: “The country is passing through a tough time now. Our leaders are in jail. Under these circumstances, the government must create a neutral atmosphere in the upcoming election.”
“Local government election is non-political but important to politics, so the election will not be credible if someone participates and someone doesn’t,” he added.
Khulna metropolitan AL General Secretary Mijanur Rahman Mijan said, “AL, as a democratic party, is happy to see the election schedule announced. We are already prepared.
“Work is going on to select nominees for councillors. We think [holding] local government elections [within the] scheduled time is important for the democratic system,” he added.