Cox's Bazar Awami League is facing tremendous internal conflict as a number of candidates have decided to participate in the upcoming upazila polls for multiple upazilas of the district.
Although, only one candidate approved by the party high-command is supposed to contest for each upazila parishad—for each post—the absence of hard and fast directives provided by the central Awami League authority has allowed several party leaders and activists to participate in the polls.
In different upazila parishads, due to multiple candidates vying for one post, local Awami League units have divided into groups, supporting different candidates; and this has made the district Awami League leaders very uncomfortable. As time passes, tension among the various groups is increasing.
Upazila polls in Chakaria Upazila are scheduled to be held on March 18. Polls—in Ramu, Maheshkhali, Pekua, Ukhia, Teknaf, and Kutubdia—will be held on March 24, and the voters of Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila are to exercise their franchise on March 31.
Furthermore, a total of 87 candidates submitted their nominations on the last day of nomination submission, which was February 26.
Of the 87, 26 have submitted their nominations for the chairman post, 48 for the vice chairman post, and 25 for the women's' vice chairman posts. None of them are thinking of backing down, or sparing their competition, and this has resulted in an internal instability within the district's Awami League.
Addressing the proceedings, Cox's Bazar Awami League President Advocate Sirajul Mostafa said: "Till now there has not been a specific directive from party high-command regarding, rebel candidates, for the upcoming upazila polls.
"However, no party member or leader can go against the party-approved candidate as the prime minister herself chooses who will use the boat symbol in the upazila polls."
"We are waiting for the decision to be made by the party high- command," he added.
Meanwhile, Cox's Bazar District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Hossain said: "All the past elections in Cox's Bazar have been fair and free, and nothing contrary to this will happen this time.
"All arrangements for the upcoming upazila parishad polls have been made. We are hopeful that we will be able to gift the people of Cox's Bazar a very festive election."
