Feni Awami League leaders and activists are preparing for the upcoming upazila polls—deciding who will represent them and speculating about who will receive the party nomination—because the schedule for this election has been announced by the Election Commission.
However, opposition party members and leaders, as well as voters, of the area are not enthusiastic about the upcoming upazila polls.
When contacted, District Awami League President Abdur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that: "District Awami League has sought nomination papers from the nomination aspirants for the position of chairman, vice chairman, and female vice chairman in the upcoming upazila election."
"Responding to this, till the evening of January 28; 40 aspirants have applied for the post of chairman, 56 for vice chairman, and 23 have submitted their applications for the post of female vice chairman in six upazilas."
"Later, on January 29, the district and upazila Awami League leaders collectively nominated the party's candidates for the upcoming upazila polls," he added.
Addressing the proceedings, District BNP President advocate Abu Taher said: "As per the directives provided by the central command of the party, we are not going to participate in the upcoming upazila polls.
"Local party leaders and activists are complying with the decision made by the central leaders. Even the voters of the region are reluctant regarding the election."
The reporter, while visiting the area, did not observe much enthusiasm or interest among the local residents about the upcoming upazila polls. The people taking a break at roadside tea stalls were discussing many things, but the upcoming upazila election was not a topic of conversation.
District Jatiya Party (Ershad) Member Secretary Engineer Khandakar Nazrul Islam said: "We are also preparing for the upazila election. We will nominate a candidate in all the upazilas for every post in the election."
District Communist Party Bangladesh General Secretary Mahibul Haque Chowdhury said: "The Left Democratic Alliance has decided not to participate in the upazila election. Especially after the unfair and uneven 11th parliamentary election held by the ruling party."
Other parties have yet to decide about their participation in the upcoming upazila polls.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu) Acting President Kazi Abdul Bari confirmed to the reporter that they are in favour of the upazila election.
"However, on February 8, the party's central committee will conduct a meeting in Dhaka to decide on how many candidates we will have in the upazila election," he said.
District Awami League-proposed candidates in the six upazilas of Feni are:
For Feni Sadar upazila: District Juba League General Secretary Shushen Chandra Shil for chairman, Awami League Office Secretary A K M Shaheed Khandakar for vice chairman, and Sadar upazila Mohila Awami League President Josna Ara Jushi for female vice chairman.
For Daganbhuiyan upazila: District Juba League President Didarul Kabir Ratan for chairman, Md Shahin for vice chairman, and Daganbhuiyan upazila Juba Mohila League President Roksana Siddique for female vice chairman.
For Sonagazi upazila: Upazila Awami League President Ruhul Amin for chairman, Sakhawatul Haque Bitu for vice chairman, and Jobeda Nahar Mili for female vice chairman.
For Chhagalnaiya upazila: Upazila Awami League General Secretary Mejbaul Hayder Chowdhury Sohel for chairman, upazila Juba League President Enamul Haque Majumder for vice chairman, and Bibi Julekh for female vice chairman.
For Parshuram upazila: Upazila Awami League General Secretary Kamal Uddin Majumdar for chairman, upazila Awami League President Enamul Karim Majumder Badal for vice chairman, and Shamsunnahar for female vice chairman.
For Fulgazi upazila: Upazila Awami League General Secretary Abdul Alim Majumder for chairman, Abul Alam Azmir for vice chairman, and Manjuara Aziz, for female vice chairman.
Commenting on the upcoming upazila polls District Awami League General Secretary and Feni 2 MP Nizam Uddin Hajari said: "The aspirants that we have nominated result from a collective decision.
"Leaders and activists from all the upazilas of the district participated in the selection and nomination process. This is the primary candidates list.
“However, the finalized candidates list will be announced by the central command," he added.
According to the district and upazila Awami League, for each of the upazilas, the party's chairmen, vice-chairmen, and women's vice-chairman candidates have been selected. The final list of party candidates will be published by the centre.
