Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was eager for updates on the upcoming polls to five city corporations immediately after her return to Dhaka after her tri-nation visit to Japan, the US and the UK. The AL president asked party General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader about the preparations for polls almost as soon as she landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Tuesday morning.
Several high-level government sources said the prime minister was cheerful despite the long flight, as her visit abroad had been very successful.
A senior minister who was present at the reception for the prime minister at the airport told Dhaka Tribune: “The prime minister told us that the leaders of other countries have praised the development and growth of Bangladesh under her leadership during this visit. They praised the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
Another official said the AL president would likely sit with all mayoral candidates of the five city polls and senior party leaders to discuss the preparations soon.
“In addition, she may also call a Central Working Committee meeting of the Awami League this month to discuss recent organizational and political issues with party colleagues,” he added.
Before the prime minister left for her 15-day tri-nation visit, the Awami League Nomination Board announced its mayoral candidates for the elections to Gazipur, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi, and Sylhet city corporations. The ruling party nominated Talukder Abdul Khaleque for Khulna City Corporation, Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury for Sylhet City Corporation, Khairuzzaman Liton for Rajshahi City Corporation, Abul Khair Abdullah alias Khokon Serniabat for Barisal City Corporation, and Azmat Ullah Khan for Gazipur City Corporation.
The election to the Gazipur City Corporation will be held on May 25, in Khulna and Barisal on June 12, and in Rajshahi and Sylhet on June 21.
Infighting and presence of rebel candidates of Awami League, the participation of BNP-family backed candidates has been seen in mayoral and council races in this series of city corporation elections. Although the Awami League high command wants free, fair and participatory city corporation elections, they also want to ensure their party candidates achieve victory with the next parliamentary election slated for the end of the year.
In some places, such as Gazipur, Barisal and Sylhet, mayoral candidates picked by the Awami League are still not in a very favourable position, according to party insiders.
All of them are waiting for instructions from party President Sheikh Hasina. They believe all the internal problems will be solved with her directions.
Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Haque, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain, Press Secretary to Prime Minister Ehsanul Karim, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Biplab Barua, and other high officials of the government were present at the reception for the Prime Minister at the Dhaka airport.
