About one hundred aspirants belonging to different political parties as well as independent candidates are in the field for election in nine upazilas in Kurigram.
Upazila level political leaders of Awami League (AL), BNP, Jatiya Party (JP) and Jatiya Samjtantric Dal (JSD) have started informal campaign for the polls, although the parties are yet to give them green signal.
Many aspirants feel if the elections are held on October 23, they will not get enough time for campaign after announcement of the polls schedule.
The election will be held in three posts -- chairman and two vice-chairmen in each upazila.
Acting district election officer of Kurigram, Md Zelhaz Uddin told this correspondent that he received several messages from the Election Commission about holding upazila election but he is yet to know how in many upazilas in the district the election will be held.
He received final voter lists of seven upazilas while the lists of Bhurungamari and Nageshwari upazilas are yet to reach there.
Voter lists of Bhurungamari and Nageshwari upazilas will be completed within this month and the distribution of ID Cards will be completed by October, said Major Kader, the in-charge (election) of joint forces here.
“I will seek approval for candidature in Sadar upazila when the polls schedule is announced and I am working for this. District AL Secretary Md Jafar Ali will also seek nomination for the election,” district AL Vice-president Sree Alok Sarkar said.
He, however, said they do not support holding of upazila election before parliamentary polls.
“We will not go against the decision of our party's central committee. However, with hope to get decision for going to the upazila elections in a short time, several aspirants have already started working,” district AL president and former ambassador Maj Gen (rtd) Md Amsa A Amin said.
BNP candidates, willing to seek party approval for upazila polls in the district, are 'silently' campaigning in their areas.
District BNP Vice-president Shafiqul Islam Babu, however, said, “We will not take any decision for upazila polls before getting instruction from the centre.”
District JP has finalised names of their candidates for each upazila in the district. Sadar JP Secretary Sree Susen Chandra said names of the selected candidates have been sent to the central committee for approval and the candidates are working in their areas.
Three JSD candidates -- Md Emdad Hossen for Sadar, advocate Md Nazir Hossen for Fulbari and Shamsul Haque for Rajarhat upazila -- are campaigning in their areas to contest in the election, district JSD Secretary Emdad Hossen said.