Grassroots ignored

The BNP did not let its grassroots leaders primarily select its contenders in the polls, ignoring the electoral law and its own charter.

The ruling Awami League had done the same while picking its possible nominees.

Section 90B (iv) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) empowers the grassroots of all registered political parties to play a role in choosing parliamentary hopefuls.

Grassroots leaders from each constituency are supposed to send a list of prospective MP candidates to their party's central parliamentary board. Taking the list into consideration, the board would then finalise the nominees.

The provision, introduced ahead of the 2008 election, required each party's parliamentary board to finalise its nominations from the lists prepared by the grassroots.

Read more: AL ignores RPO, its charter

The aim of introducing this provision was to strengthen democratic practice in the selection of MP nominees and to rein in the large amount of money being spent for nominations.

But the RPO was later amended, leaving the issue of picking candidates from the lists to the discretion of political parties.  

The BNP in 2008 included a provision in its charter in line with the RPO.

In fact, inclusion of such a provision in the party charter is one of the requirements to be registered with the Election Commission. The registration can be cancelled for violating it.

Over a dozen BNP grassroots leaders told this newspaper that they were not asked by the party to prepare any list of MP aspirants in their areas.

“Khaleda Zia finalised 80 percent of the candidates before she went to jail. The aspirants are collecting nomination forms in consultation with the grassroots leaders, but we did not get any letter from the grassroots,” BNP Vice-chairman Mohammad Shahjahan told The Daily Star.

Taimur Rahman, president of Thakurgaon BNP, said, “Our central leaders visited the district multiple times to pick the candidates. We did not send any list to the centre. Party's secretary general will make the final decision.”

BNP Organising Secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu said the local leaders were asked to send lists of prospective candidates but they did not send any such list.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder yesterday said opinions from the grassroots may get ignored during the nomination process.

“I think, the grassroots will not have a say in the process as mandated by the RPO,” he told a discussion at the EC office.

“We want wise and patriotic people in the parliament; and this has to be done through voting. That's why it is essential that the grassroots have a voice.”

In each constituency, at least ten to fifteen BNP leaders are in the race to obtain party tickets.

Over the last four days, around 4,000 BNP leaders collected the forms.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Oikyafront has decided to contest the election with BNP's symbol of sheaf of paddy.

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna told reporters about the decision after a meeting at Dr Kamal Hossain's chamber.