BNP Refuses To Participate In Five City Polls
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- 06 Jun 2023
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The BNP intends to take a stringent approach towards its leaders and activists participating in the upcoming city polls, as well as those supporting them. Although the councilor election is meant to be non-partisan, certain grassroots leaders, particularly the existing councilors, are eager to enter the polls, causing unease within the party.
This marks the first occasion where the party is adopting a tough stance on participating in councilor polls. They have already declared their decision to boycott the forthcoming mayoral elections for five city corporations.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a standing committee member of the party, stated, "It's a definitive decision. No one is permitted to contest the polls. We are engaged in a movement. When the legitimacy of the regime is in question, how can we participate in the polls? Therefore, no one is allowed to run in the elections," as mentioned in The Daily Star.
Despite the party's stance, certain leaders have shown interest in running in the polls, either due to pressure or willingly, according to party sources.
As per the Election Commission, the deadline for submitting nominations for the Gazipur City Corporation polls is April 27 (today), Khulna and Barishal on May 16, and Rajshahi and Sylhet on May 23. The elections will take place on May 25 in Gazipur, June 12 in Khulna and Barishal, and June 21 in Rajshahi and Sylhet.
Insiders reveal that the BNP standing committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, has decided to counsel potential candidates to deter them from participating in the electoral process.
During the committee's meeting on Tuesday night, the party's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, joined virtually from London. Sources from the meeting confirmed that the party reaffirmed its decision not to participate in the city polls and stated that organizational measures would be taken against anyone who violates the party's decision.
The meeting also discussed the names of individuals that surfaced in the media as potential candidates, although none of them had communicated with the party regarding their intentions to contest the polls.
Meeting sources mentioned that the standing committee believes former lawmaker Nazrul Islam Manjur of Khulna, former Barishal mayor Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, and former Rajshahi mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul will not run in the polls.
No one from Gazipur has contacted the party to express their desire to contest the polls, but central leaders remain skeptical about Sylhet Mayor Ariful Huq Chowdhury. The party will closely observe Arif's actions in the coming days.
Recently, at a program in London, Arif stated that he would not participate in the polls, but upon his return, he mentioned having a surprise for everyone. The mayor has yet to reveal the nature of this surprise.
"If anyone wishes to become a mayoral or councilor candidate, the top leadership will initially attempt to make them understand that the party is engaged in a movement. If the person still chooses to participate in the polls, it will hinder the movement," said an unnamed standing committee member.
The party's senior members will also remind aspiring candidates of the consequences faced by those who previously contested elections against party orders.
"If anyone persists in participating in the polls, disciplinary action will be taken. Additionally, if party leaders holding any positions encourage aspirants to join the polls, action will be taken against them as well."
Party sources indicate that expulsion is the severest measure, and the top leaders will strive to avoid it as such an action could negatively impact the ongoing movement.
Since December 24 of last year, the BNP and similar political parties have been staging protests to fulfill their 10-point demands, which include the government's resignation and elections conducted under a nonpartisan caretaker government.
Since March 2021, the party has refrained from participating in any elections under the current government.
In 2022, going against the party's decision, BNP leaders Taimur Alam Khandaker and Monirul Haque Sakku ran as independent candidates in the Narayanganj and Cumilla city corporation polls, respectively, but were unsuccessful. Consequently, the party expelled them.
In 2018, Awami League candidates won four mayoral posts, while the BNP nominee secured one.
During the 2013 elections, candidates from the opposition party emerged victorious in all five mayoral polls in those cities.
