The ruling Awami League is aiming for victories for its candidates in competitive and peaceful district council elections across the country on Monday.
The polls are set to be held in 57 districts, with the Election Commission keeping a close eye on proceedings through CCTV cameras.
In order to foster competition and a festive election atmosphere, the Awami League has not asked any of its candidates to withdraw their candidature. Instead, the party has given all extra motivation to its candidates by saying that those who perform well will be considered for nominations in the next general election.
In previous elections, the Awami League took strict action against rebel candidates.
A member of Awami League’s local government election nomination board told Dhaka Tribune: “After the recent moves of the Election Commission in the Gaibandha-5 by-polls, our main target is to ensure a peaceful and meaningful district council election.”
He added that the Awami League expects victories from its candidates as only elected representatives have voting powers in district council polls, and the majority of elected representatives are backed by the ruling party.
In this election, the Awami League nomination board chaired by party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given party support to 61 chairman candidates in 61 districts, with 26 chairman candidates already elected unopposed in their respective districts. A total 92 chairman candidates will contest for 33 posts in the district council polls on Monday.
When contacted, AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim on Sunday told Dhaka Tribune: “We did not force any candidates to withdraw their candidacy in these polls because we believe in the practice of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and we want a meaningful, competitive, and peaceful election.”
BM Mozammel Huq, organizing secretary of Awami League and in-charge of Khulna Division, said: “In the division I am responsible for, votes will be cast in nine out of 10 districts as one district’s chairman has already been elected unopposed.”
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, a presidium member of Awami league, on Saturday said the party would decide on nominations for the next general election after judging the performance of candidates in the district council polls.
Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of Awami league, told this correspondent the party is optimistic over their chances of victory in competitive polls across the country.
“The majority of our party supported candidates will win in the chairman posts as this election is a prestigious election and putting in significant effort.”
On August 23, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the district council elections in Bangladesh, excluding the three hill districts.
On October 12, the by-polls to Gaibandha-5 were cancelled after the Election Commission detected voting irregularities at the polling centres through CCTV cameras.
