Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has again discouraged Awami League ministers and members of parliament from pushing their family members as candidates for the upazila council election.
“The families of many Awami League activists have been involved in politics for extended periods,” she said.
“They would stand in elections, some for the post of union chairman, others for the post of upazila chairman. They have a political history. How can you stop them from competing?”
“But this is true that it isn right for someone to make their wife a candidate in one place and their son a candidate in another. Activists should be valued. That is the message I wish to send to activists.”
Elections will be held to 485 out of 495 upazilas in four phases this year.
The Election Commission will hold polls for the remaining upazilas once their terms end.
A total of 150 upazilas are going to the polls in the first phase on May 8.
Awami League President Hasina has banned the relatives of Awami League MPs and ministers from contesting the polls to keep them free from external influence.
The decision is intended to resolve party conflicts and make the polls participatory.
At a press conference on Thursday regarding her recent trip to Thailand, the prime minister reiterated her instructions.
In response to a question, she said that families extend to someones spouse and children and few of them are contesting the polls.
“We say the election should be free from influence and our goal is that people should be able to vote freely.”
“But taking everything for ones self and leaving nothing for the partys activists and leaders isn right. Thats what I wanted to say. Allowing everyone to compete and vote – our aim is to make the election meaningful.”
The BNP and like-minded allies have boycotted the Upazila polls, as they did the general election. The ruling party has also decided not to field party candidates to create a competitive atmosphere.
Regarding the boycotts, the prime minister said, “Many political parties have boycotted the polls. Why do they do so? They do not have the capacity to contest the polls. To compete for parliament, the nation has to be shown who the next leader will be, who will step into the role of parliament and take charge. They must have a leader.”
“If you don have a leader, you have to have an excuse. They don compete in the election and make a big deal out of it. That is the reality. That is what is happening in our country. This is because, if a suspect is propped up, the public will not accept it.”
