Many family members and relatives of ruling Awami League lawmakers and ministers remained in the contest for the first phase of the upazila parishad elections, defying the instructions of the party high-ups, as they did not withdraw their candidature on the last day on Monday.
According to AL leaders, family members and relatives of at least 14 AL lawmakers and ministers filed nomination papers to contest the first phase of the upazila parishad elections slated for May 8 in 150 upazilas.
Of them, only one significant candidate鈥攕tate minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak鈥檚 brother-in-law, Lutful Habib Rubel鈥攚ho was accused of ordering the abduction and torture of a rival鈥攓uit the race.
AL presidium member Shahjahan Khan鈥檚 son and AL lawmaker Ekramul Hoque Ekram鈥檚 son are still contesting the polls, ignoring the instructions of party president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
As most opposition parties, including the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotted the upazila polls in line with the last general election, the AL made the election field open for all its leaders and activists, announcing that no party symbol would be allocated to any candidate in the polls.
After such instructions, the party鈥檚 influential leaders, including lawmakers and ministers, started making their family members and relatives candidates, putting pressure on others to pull out of the race.
It sparked some controversy, prompting AL high-ups to ask lawmakers and ministers to keep their relatives and family members off the race.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said in a briefing at the political office of party president Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka鈥檚 Dhanmondi on Saturday that the children and relatives of party lawmakers and ministers would withdraw from the upazila elections.
He said that the list of candidates was being prepared, and if their candidatures were not withdrawn, the party would take action.
Even after such an announcement, Asibur Rahman Khan, son of former shipping minister and current Madaripur-2 lawmaker Shahjahan Khan, did not withdraw his candidature as Madaripur Sadar upazila chairman candidate.
鈥業 will be in the race until the end. Wherever I go, I see a chance of victory. If I win, I will work with all parties, but the Awami League will get priority,鈥� he told reporters.
Former minister and incumbent Moulvibazar-1 lawmaker Shahab Uddin鈥簊 nephew, Soyeb Ahmad, did not withdraw his nomination paper as he was contesting the polls from Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar.
鈥業 have been doing politics for 36 years. I was the union parishad chairman. Later, I became upazila chairman. I have no chance to go out of politics now,鈥� he told reporters.
鈥楳y relative may be a lawmaker. He was also elected as a lawmaker after I was elected a public representative. I cannot stop my politics for him,鈥� he said.
SM Nur Alam Siddiqui, the younger brother of Pirojpur-1 AL lawmaker SM Rezaul Karim, is contesting for the post of chairman of Nazirpur upazila parishad in the first phase of the upazila parishad elections.
Regarding the party decision, he said that he does not belong to any party now.
鈥業 was involved with the Chhatra League in the 1990s. I have not accepted any post at the Awami League or an affiliated organisation. However, I have been conducting social and political activities on behalf of the Awami League in the area,鈥� he said.
Noakhali-4 constituency AL lawmaker Ekramul Karim Chowdhury鈥簊 son, Shabab Chowdhury, is contesting the polls as the chairman candidate for Subarnachar upazila.
Addressing a recent meeting in support of his son, Ekramul said that development would be stopped in areas where his son would get fewer votes.
Shabab told reporters that he would stay in the polls as he did not have any position in the Awami League.
鈥業 became a candidate under the pressure of the people of Subarnachar upazila. There is no going back,鈥� he added.
Amid the situation, relatives of many AL lawmakers also filed nomination papers for contesting the second phase of the polls on Sunday, the last date for filing nomination papers.
About the matter, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim told 抖阴精品 that the Awami League president and prime minister wanted the upazila elections to be free, fair, and impartial.
鈥楽o, she ordered lawmakers and ministers to keep their relatives out of the election race. The party will take action against those who do not follow this instruction,鈥� he said.