�wrong nominees� for UP polls

Ruling party in a fix

The ruling Awami League finds itself in a soup after trying in vain to nominate suitable, dedicated party leaders as its candidates for the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections.
Even though the party seniors wish to revise the list of party candidates approved by party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, they cannot do so due to guidelines of the Election Commission (EC).
Meanwhile, grassroots leaders from across the country have been visiting AL President Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office almost daily to petition the party’s office Secretary against the allegedly wrong selection of party candidates for the posts of UP Chairman in the six phases of local body elections.
AL Central leaders, from the monitoring cell formed for the coming UP polls, have already discussed the issue with party chief Sheikh Hasina after scrutinising the allegations, party sources said.
However, this Correspondent found several such allegations where the AL grassroots bosses selected BNP, Jammat leaders as well as drug traders as party candidates for contesting the posts of Chairman in the UP elections, set to begin from March 22.
Talking to this Correspondent at the party’s Dhanmondi office on Monday, AL Presidium member and Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who asked him to contact the EC in connection with possible changes in the submitted list of AL candidates.
“We have already met EC officials to discuss the issue, but they informed us that there was no chance of bringing any change in the names of AL candidates who have already submitted their nomination papers endorsed by its chief Shiekh Hasina due to legal bindings,” he said.
When AL senior leader Obaidul Quader was talking over the issue on Monday morning at Dhanmondi office, a UP Chairman aspirant from Natore district, came up with the allegation that a BNP leader received an AL ticket for contesting the first phase of UP polls in his Union. The minister, who is also the chief of the monitoring cell, told the grassroots leader that the aspirant should communicate with them before finalising the party candidates’ list.
According to the grassroots leaders’ allegations, The Independent Correspondent mentioned certain irregularities in selecting AL candidates for contesting UP polls. These charges include BNP leader Matiur Rahman Moti getting an AL ticket in Mahterbuniya Union under Patuakhali district, land-grabber Salauddin Liton in Shakta Union under Keraniganj upazila and Yaba trader Moulana Aziz in Baharchhara union in Teknaf upazila.
Besides, the grassroots leaders alleged that the party’s district bosses, who are chiefs of AL’s Selection Board, are forwarding two or three names for contesting one Union Parishad, to the Central AL, in exchange for huge amounts of money though they were supposed to select a single candidate.
When contacted, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, “Yes, in some Union Parishads, we could not provide proper candidates, but in the next phase of elections, we will nominate party candidates very cautiously.”
Talking to this Correspondent at Dhanmondi office yesterday morning, AL office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap admitted that some of above allegations proved true, and local lawmakers and district bosses were responsible for it.
“Our party chief Sheikh Hasina is aware of the matter and has directed us to take action. We have already sent letters to stakeholders of the local body elections to cancel the candidatures of BNP-Jamaat leaders who got AL tickets mistakenly,” he said.
Golap, also a Special Assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the selection process of AL will be conducted very carefully in the next phase of UP elections.
Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League had announced the first phase of UP polls for all 738 candidates onMarch 22 and on March 31 for the second phase elections for 672 candidates.

 

 

�wrong nominees� for UP polls

Ruling party in a fix

The ruling Awami League finds itself in a soup after trying in vain to nominate suitable, dedicated party leaders as its candidates for the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections. Even though the party seniors wish to revise the list of party candidates approved by party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, they cannot do so due to guidelines of the Election Commission (EC). Meanwhile, grassroots leaders from across the country have been visiting AL President Sheikh Hasinas Dhanmondi political office almost daily to petition the partys office Secretary against the allegedly wrong selection of party candidates for the posts of UP Chairman in the six phases of local body elections. AL Central leaders, from the monitoring cell formed for the coming UP polls, have already discussed the issue with party chief Sheikh Hasina after scrutinising the allegations, party sources said. However, this Correspondent found several such allegations where the AL grassroots bosses selected BNP, Jammat leaders as well as drug traders as party candidates for contesting the posts of Chairman in the UP elections, set to begin from March 22. Talking to this Correspondent at the partys Dhanmondi office on Monday, AL Presidium member and Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who asked him to contact the EC in connection with possible changes in the submitted list of AL candidates. We have already met EC officials to discuss the issue, but they informed us that there was no chance of bringing any change in the names of AL candidates who have already submitted their nomination papers endorsed by its chief Shiekh Hasina due to legal bindings, he said. When AL senior leader Obaidul Quader was talking over the issue on Monday morning at Dhanmondi office, a UP Chairman aspirant from Natore district, came up with the allegation that a BNP leader received an AL ticket for contesting the first phase of UP polls in his Union. The minister, who is also the chief of the monitoring cell, told the grassroots leader that the aspirant should communicate with them before finalising the party candidates list. According to the grassroots leaders allegations, The Independent Correspondent mentioned certain irregularities in selecting AL candidates for contesting UP polls. These charges include BNP leader Matiur Rahman Moti getting an AL ticket in Mahterbuniya Union under Patuakhali district, land-grabber Salauddin Liton in Shakta Union under Keraniganj upazila and Yaba trader Moulana Aziz in Baharchhara union in Teknaf upazila. Besides, the grassroots leaders alleged that the partys district bosses, who are chiefs of ALs Selection Board, are forwarding two or three names for contesting one Union Parishad, to the Central AL, in exchange for huge amounts of money though they were supposed to select a single candidate. When contacted, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, Yes, in some Union Parishads, we could not provide proper candidates, but in the next phase of elections, we will nominate party candidates very cautiously. Talking to this Correspondent at Dhanmondi office yesterday morning, AL office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap admitted that some of above allegations proved true, and local lawmakers and district bosses were responsible for it. Our party chief Sheikh Hasina is aware of the matter and has directed us to take action. We have already sent letters to stakeholders of the local body elections to cancel the candidatures of BNP-Jamaat leaders who got AL tickets mistakenly, he said. Golap, also a Special Assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the selection process of AL will be conducted very carefully in the next phase of UP elections. Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League had announced the first phase of UP polls for all 738 candidates onMarch 22 and on March 31 for the second phase elections for 672 candidates.