AL wants JS polls first, JP for upazila

Awami League (AL) leaders yesterday vehemently opposed the caretaker government's plan to hold upazila parishad polls before the parliamentary one, apprehending that it would adversely influence the national elections due this year.
Jatiya Party (JP) leaders however extended strong support to the government's proposal, with civil society members expressing mixed reactions. On the other hand, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Mofazzal Karim remained mum on the issue.
The observations came at a roundtable styled "What sort of candidates do we want in the next elections?" organised by Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Shujan) at National Press Club in the capital.
"We support election to the local government bodies, but sense conspiracy behind it if it is to be held first," said AL leader Dr Abdur Razzak.
"I want to clarify that in no way the upazila parishad elections should be held before the national polls, because upazila elections will be used differently in the national polls," he told the seminar.
He however said the city corporation and municipality elections may be held during this time.
Another AL leader Col (retd) Shawkat Ali said the party is tensed due to the fact that the Election Commission (EC) is talking about holding all sorts of elections when its main mandate now is to hold the national elections.
The party has taken a position against upazila parishad elections, he said, asking: "How is it possible that candidates selected by some forces will take part in the elections when political parties are not allowed to run their activities?"
"It's not acceptable that some people will deliver new theories of democracy without incorporating public opinion," Shawkat Ali added.
Columnist and journalist Abul Maksud said he was not feeling good about EC's recent remarks, as it was talking about holding so many elections. "EC's main task now is to hold the national elections, so it should stick to that."
Opposing AL leaders' views, JP leader Sheikh Shahidul Islam said the political parties should not create barriers on the way to hold local government elections. "Wherever voters' list is completed, the local government elections should be held."
Expressing similar view, another JP leader GM Quader said the political parties' apprehension that "king's party" will be empowered through local government elections is not right.
Shujan President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad later told journalists the government may hold local government elections including upazila parishad's if it can manage those.
"The roadmap for holding the national polls by this year, however, should in no way be hampered in the name of holding local government elections." He said he does not think there is "king's party's interest" in holding the local government elections.
Presiding the roundtable, Prof Muzaffer, also Trustee Board chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, urged political parties to make commitment they would nominate honest and competent people and not launch "nomination trade" in the next parliamentary polls.
In his keynote speech, Shujan Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder observed that the electoral laws should be more stringent so that no-one convicted of corruption can take part in the polls.
"Usually the political parties are supposed to centrally nominate the election candidates, but in most cases such rules are violated and money becomes a factor," he said.
Such trading on nomination could be avoided by appropriate electoral rules and political parties' commitment, he observed.
The speakers at the roundtable apprehended that many partisan officials are still in the administration and will work in time to help their chosen party leaders win.
BNP leader Mofazzal Karim said politicians created political divisions in the administration since the 80s which is a matter of concern. "We have to think how we can address the issue."
Former advisers to caretaker government ASM Shahjahan and M Hafizuddin Khan, Brotee Chief Executive Officer Sharmeen Murshid, AL leader advocate Rahmat Ali, columnist Mohiuddin Ahmed, local government expert Abu Taleb also spoke.