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Most of the public representatives did not take into account the instructions of the Awami League to remove their relatives from the election field of the party MP-ministers to make the upazila elections full of competition and participation. Not only did some 'thumbs up' the party's strong threats of 'organizational action' or 'expulsion', they secured uncontested victory in many places. Ministers-MPs have directly or indirectly influenced it. The Center is furious over the matter and is considering taking action against them. The party's responsible sources said that 'tough steps' may come at the party's executive committee meeting at the end of this month.
According to the party sources, on April 18, at the political office of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, the general secretary of the party ordered to withdraw from the elections in the places where the relatives of the ministers-MPs are conducting upazila elections. The responsible organizational secretaries periodically inform the concerned MP-ministers about the party decisions. The apprehensions that remained in spite of the positive attitude among the candidates about the issue, finally came true. That is, the relatives of ministers-MPs from the upazila did not leave the polling ground. Additionally 26 candidates won unopposed. Where the party is expecting a hotly contested upazila election; Being elected there unopposed means making the election 'disputed'. That's why the center is upset about the matter.
Read: In the fourth phase, 55 upazilas and Jhenaidah-1 by-elections will be held on June 5
As per the schedule for the first phase of elections, the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers was Monday (April 22). 198 candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers in this phase. Among them, there are 95 candidates for the post of chairman, 79 for the post of vice chairman and 24 for the post of female vice chairman. After the withdrawal, 554 contenders for the post of chairman, 604 for the post of vice chairman and 429 for the post of female vice chairman remained. So far, 1588 people have survived in the final fight for three positions in this phase. In this phase, symbols are being allotted among the candidates on Tuesday (April 23). The first phase of voting will be held on May 8.
According to Election Commission sources, 7 chairmen, 9 vice chairmen and 10 female vice chairmen won unopposed in the first phase of upazila elections. This number may increase when the final list comes out. The upazilas where the candidates were elected unopposed are- Vice Chairman and Female Vice Chairman of Baliadangi (Thakurgaon) Upazila, Female Vice Chairman of Hakimpur (Dinajpur) Upazila, Chairman of Saghata (Gaibandha) Upazila, Female Vice Chairman of Bara (Pabna) Upazila, Singra (Nator) Upazila. ) upazila chairman and female vice chairman of Kushtia sadar were elected without voting. Besides, three posts in Bagerhat Sadar, three posts in Munshiganj Sadar and three posts in Shibchar (Madaripur) were elected without voting. Besides, female vice chairman of Baralekha (Moulvibazar) upazila, three posts in Parashuram (Feni) upazila, vice chairman in Sandwip (Chittagong) upazila. , Vice Chairman of Cox's Bazar Sadar, Chairman of Rowangchari (Banderban) Upazila and Vice Chairman of Kaukhali (Rangamati) Upazila were elected without voting.
read- Upazila Election: 26 candidates won unopposed in the first phase of voting
It has been found that out of the 11 upazilas of Sylhet division, Shoaib Ahmad, the nephew of the former minister of environment, forest and climate affairs and current MP Shahab Uddin, is the only candidate for the Baralekha of Moulvibazar. Narsingdi District Palash MP Dr. Anwarul Ashraf Khan Dilip's relative Shariful Haque also did not withdraw his candidature for the post of chairman. Madaripur Sadar Upazila MP Shajahan Khan's son Asibur Rahman Khan did not withdraw his candidature. Brother and son of Sariakandi and Sonatala MP Sahadara Mannan of Bogra did not withdraw their candidature. Upazila Awami League member Shakhawat Hossain Sajal, son of the MP, has become a candidate in Sariakandi. MP's brother upazila Awami League president current chairman Minhaduzzaman Liton has become a candidate in Sonatala.
Chuadanga-2 Constituency MP Ali Azgar Togar's brother Ali Munchur Babu has become a candidate in Damurhuda. In Kushtia Sadar Upazila, Awami League's joint secretary and Sadar Constituency MP Mahbub Ul-Alam Hanif's cousin Ataur Rahman Ata also did not withdraw his nomination papers. Rajshahi's Tanore chairman candidate Lutfar Haider Rashid Maina is the son of Awami League's local MP Farooq Chowdhury's cousin. He did not withdraw the nomination papers. Pabna Bara Deputy Speaker Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku's younger brother Abdul Baten, former mayor of Bara municipality and nephew Abul Kalam Sabuj did not withdraw their candidature. Subarnachar MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury's son Atahar Ishrak Sabab Chowdhury also did not withdraw from voting.
Read: 2-4 platoons of BGB are deployed per upazila
When asked about the overall issue, Awami League's organizing secretary BM Mozammel Haque told RisingBD, 'It is not right to disobey party instructions. The matter may be discussed in the meeting of the executive committee.
Another organizing secretary of the party, SM Kamal Hossain, told RisingBD, 'Thank you to those who followed the instructions of the party and removed their close relatives from the election. And those who did not follow the instructions, it is sad.'
Party sources say that the officials do not want to say anything publicly about the close relatives of the ministers-MPs who are in the election field. Because, there is also a responsible leader of the Central Committee. However, the Center did not take the matter well as the MP-ministers disobeyed the party instructions. Especially on Tuesday evening, the general secretary of the party, Obaidul Quader, expressed his anger about the matter. Some of the party's central leaders are describing it as a crime against the party. Party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is visiting Thailand on Wednesday. He will return home on April 29. The meeting of the executive committee of the party will be held the next day. The matter will be discussed there and further action will be taken. Earlier, some ministers-MPs have disobeyed the party instructions, the office cell is preparing a list on the instructions of the party general secretary Obaidul Quader.
When asked, Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah told RisingBD, 'The general secretary of the party, Obaidul Quader, instructed the Awami League president to withdraw from the election of close relatives. Na Sarle also said to take organizational measures. But many did not believe that. There will be a meeting of the executive committee on the matter on April 30. There will be a decision.'
