Dhaka: The Awami League (AL) finds itself in hot water over the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral by-election as a section of ruling party leaders think that the local government polls ahead of the next general elections may not bring any good result for the party. These leaders are of the opinion that if the AL-nominated candidate concedes a defeat in the DNCC by-polls, the result might impact the 11th parliamentary elections.
They think if the AL goes against the by-polls, it might affect the party’s image ahead of the general elections.
Talking to The Independent, a presidium member of the AL, who is in favour of holding the DNCC by-polls, said: “If we avoid the DNCC by-polls, we will still have to take part in the upcoming Gazipur, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet city elections. Avoiding the DNCC by-polls will taint the government's image.”
On the other hand, another central leader told this correspondent that DNCC by-polls at this moment may not bring any good results for the party.
The AL leader’s stance against DNCC by-polls comes at a time when the EC has already said that they would announce the schedule for the by-polls in the second week of January and the voting will be held in the last week of February.
The EC sources also said that there is no complication over holding the DNCC by-polls. The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant with the demise of Annisul Huq on November 30.
Asked to explain the stance of a section of partymen opposing DNCC-by-polls right at this moment, AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said the AL would not interfere in the Election Commission's (EC's) decision.
“If the EC thinks that there is a legal complication in holding the by-polls, it won't announce the election schedule. It completely depends on the commission,” he added.
Another joint general secretary, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, yesterday said the party was yet to take any decision on the by-polls, although several newspapers published reports saying that the ruling party had already chosen its candidates for the city polls.
“This is really ridiculous,” he added.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader told the media that if the EC announced the schedule of the by-polls, the ruling party would contest the polls. He also said the AL was looking for a candidate, who, besides having a clean image, was devoted to the party and believed in the spirit of Liberation War.
When contacted, Lt Col (retd.) Muhammad Faruq Khan said several names had come forward, but the final decision would be taken at the meeting of the local government nomination board, if the EC announced the election schedule for the DNCC polls.
Talking about the nomination of former Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) as the party candidate, Faruq Khan said: “In last meeting of presidium members, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to know about the eligible and interested candidates for the DNCC by-polls.”
“We only discussed the matter. A decision in this regard will be taken later,” he added.
Meanwhile, several candidates who want to get the AL’s nod for contesting the DNCC by-polls have already started hectic lobbying with the party’s top leadership.
According to party insiders, more than half a dozen aspirants are ready to seek nomination from the party chief, Sheikh Hasina, for contesting the prestigious local government election.
Although the party has not started talking about it officially, the issue has become a common topic of discussion at Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office. There is great interest in speculating who could be the possible candidate for the mayoral post.
Former BGMEA president Atiqul Islam, Bangabandhu researcher and poet Russel Ashequi, Dhaka North Awami League president AKM Rahamatullah, its secretary Sadek Khan, Sarah Begum Kabari and Kamal Ahmed Majumder, among others, are trying to get the nomination.
Following the death of DNCC mayor Annisul Huq on November 30, the mayoral post was declared vacant from December 1 as per Article 15(E) of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009.
According to the electoral law, the EC will have to hold a by-election to elect the people’s representative for the vacant post within 90 days for the rest of the DNCC's tenure.
Earlier, the EC secretary, Helal Uddin Ahmed, had told a group of reporters that the commission was ready to hold the by-polls for the mayoral post within 90 days.
