UP Polls in Raozan: All candidates in 14 unions to win uncontested
The union parishad (UP) polls in Chattogram's Raozan upazila is going to create a history in the electoral culture of the country as all the chairmen and members of 14 unions are going to be elected uncontested.
Only the ruling Awami League-nominated candidates have submitted their nominations for the chairman posts, 126 general posts for members, and 42 seats reserved for women in member posts.
The last date for submitting nomination was November 2 while the date for verifying nomination papers was November 4.
The last date of withdrawal of candidacy is today for the polls scheduled to be held on November 28.
If no candidate withdraws candidacy, all the candidates would be declared elected uncontested on November 12, said Arun Uday Tripura, returning officer and Raozan Upazila Elections Office.
BNP leaders and locals alleged that many wanted to be candidates but could not due to fear of tyranny by the ruling party men.
"It is the local lawmaker who selects the candidates for chairmen and members in UPs, mayor and councilors in municipality and chairman and vice chairmen in upazila parishad polls for the last five years," a BNP leader said, seeking anonymity.
"No other candidate can submit nomination papers here. If anyone tries to do so, he or she has to come under tyranny by the ruling party men," the BNP leader added.
BNP sources said Abu Jafar Chowdhury, former president of BNP Raozan municipality unit, got party nomination to vie for mayoral post in this year's municipal polls, adding, although he bought nomination paper, he could not submit it.
Contacted, Jafar denied making any comment on this issue.
Shahadat Hossain, president of BNP Chattogram city unit, said, "Raozan is a locality where one person and his party have suppressed all other democratic forces to turn the area into a hub of autocratic rule.
"No one can even submit nomination paper for polls without getting approval of that person."
Akter Kabir Chowdhury, president of Sushashoner Jonyo Nagorik's (SUJAN) Chattogram district unit, said "It's alarming for our democracy and electoral system."
Despite knowing everything, the state or the election commission has not taken any step, he added.
"The EC should take step to cancel the polls in Raozan UPs weighing the situation," he further said.
Contacted, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, lawmaker from Chattogram -6 constituency, denied all the allegations raised against him.
"I don't have any interest in UP polls. Our local leaders are working for the party nominated candidates."
Asked, he further said, "If none comes to vie in polls, what can we do?"
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