The ruling party, Awami League, is likely to finalize its list of candidates for the 11th general election, by September this year; in a bid to avert internal disputes during election time, and to put to the rest the ongoing feuds and clashes among party leaders at all levels.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, party insiders claimed Awami League has already selected potential candidates via several surveys conducted by party high command—with support from law enforcement agencies.
They added that the Awami League will reveal the names of its candidates on the first week of September.
Several senior leaders believe if candidates are identified in September, four months before the election, they will have sufficient time to understand competing factions and their demands—and start an effort to resolve internal conflicts.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, and General Secretary Obaidul Quader, are slated to select candidates for the upcoming parliamentary polls within this timeframe, insiders revealed.
Multiple leaders in each constituency have emerged throughout Awami League’s tenure as the ruling party, which has lasted nearly a decade.
Almost all of these leaders are eager to contest the polls with Awami League’s blessing—which has led to internal conflict and disagreement among the aspirants.
Fresh faces to be introduced
According to the ruling party’s high command, more than 50 fresh faces could get Awami League tickets to contest in the next parliamentary election.
Young Awami League leaders, especially the newly inducted members of the party’s executive body, and some former Chhatra League leaders, are very optimistic about the possibility of being nominated in the next polls.
According to insiders, Awami League high-ups have already laid partial ground work for the next polls—for example, by conducting surveys to learn about the prospective candidates’ popularity in their constituencies.
Senior Awami League leaders are in favour of handing out party tickets early so that candidates have more time to prepare for the elections Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
Reports from law enforcement agencies are also being collected for evaluation.
The Awami League is planning to make young leaders participate in the next polls, along with its established leadership, party sources said.
The insiders added that the ruling party might drop around 100 lawmakers, and some ministers, from the list of nominated candidates, over poor performance, involvement in corruption, and other irregularities.
“A number of nominated young leaders, who won in the previous polls, have performed so well that their chances of getting nominations again are quite high,” said an Awami League presidium member, on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Abdur Razzak, another presidium member, said: “Factors such as honesty, popularity, educational background, and interaction with grassroots leaders will be considered as criteria for the candidate selection process.
‘50 lawmakers could be dropped’
According to Awami League insiders, around 50 incumbent lawmakers are at risk of being dropped from the nomination process; because of their controversial activities.
A member of the Awami League parliamentary selection board told the Dhaka Tribune: “According to surveys conducted by party high command and agencies, around 50 lawmakers were found to be engaging in controversial activities, and tarnishing the party’s image.”
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, on several occasions, said the party lawmakers who are unpopular, will not get party tickets in the next general polls.
A number of insiders commented that if the ruling party does not drop at least a hundred incumbent MPs from the next nomination list, the party’s performance will be negatively impacted in the next general polls.
Adding that the Awami League leaders are treading cautiously, they said Sheikh Hasina will compile the final nomination list from several other lists provided by intelligence agencies and party leaders.
Celebrities likely to get nominations
Awami League’s latest strategy to woo voters to the general polls promises to be nothing short of a red-carpet affair.
On May 31, 2018, the ruling party’s general secretary unveiled a plan to deploy an ensemble of celebrities and A-listers as candidates for the 11th parliamentary election.
He confirmed that the prime minister has been provided with a list of cultural and media personalities, and athletes, for consideration as possible nominees for the Awami League.
“There will definitely be some excitement with the candidate selection for the upcoming elections. The Awami League will select several celebrities, and the list of possible celebrities is now in the prime minister’s hands,” Quader said.
“We will nominate candidates from the sports, cinema, as well as media industries who can win,” he added.
Earlier on May 29, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafee bin Mortaza would contest the 11th parliamentary polls on the Awami League ticket.
“Mashrafee would run from a Narail constituency while Shakib can also run in the polls if he wants to,” he said.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina told journalists, on May 30, that celebrities participate in politics, and run for office in many countries—and celebrity nominations for the upcoming polls will not deprive deserving party members.
The correspondent has learned from party sources that the Awami League is also planning to give nomination tickets to a number of businessmen, former bureaucrats, and military officers.
Several sources of the Awami League have confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the party will bring at least 60 to 70 new faces into politics ahead of the national polls due between late 2018 and early 2019.
However, an Advisory Council member, seeking anonymity said: “We will only give nominations to candidates who can prove their commitment to the party, and those who fully support the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.
“We might nominate around 100 or more (candidates),” said the insider, adding: “That is not yet certain, but we will see at least 60-70 new faces in the next election.”
The Awami League has a tradition of nominating businessmen, former bureaucrats, and defence personnel to contest in parliamentary polls. Currently, the party has 170 Members of Parliament from diverse backgrounds.
