Controversy grows over early local elections

There has been a debate among political parties over whether to hold national elections sooner or later under the interim government. The country’s two leading parties, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam, are on two poles in terms of votes. A new debate has been added to this – whether to hold national elections first or local government elections. Even so, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are in opposite positions. BNP has made it clear that they will not accept any elections before the national elections. BNP’s like-minded parties are also in favor of holding national elections first. Most recently, on Tuesday, the Left Democratic Alliance also demanded national elections first. On the contrary, Jamaat-e-Islami said that they want local elections first. That is also the position of the interim government. Meanwhile, this debate has gained momentum yesterday when Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan took the side of local government elections first.

Earlier, the Local Government Electoral Reform Commission said in its recommendation that local government institutions should be elected before the national elections. However, the Election Commission, which will organize these elections, is not in favor of holding local government elections at the moment. In the meantime, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said at a program that it will take a year to hold local elections. So I don’t want to waste time by electing local governments.

Many people think that if local governments are elected under a party government, there is a high possibility of the ruling party having influence. When the party in power, its nominated candidates become mayors and chairmen and also influence the national elections. Therefore, the government wants to hold local government elections first and at least elect mayors free from party influence in all city corporations. Since local government institutions play a big role in running the government, students want their preferred people to sit at least in city corporations, municipalities and union councils. There is discussion in political circles that they have taken a stand in favor of local government elections.

The head of the Local Government Reform Commission and local government expert Dr. Tofail Ahmed does not want to get involved in this controversy about the elections. He told our time, since we were in the reform commission, we will not get involved in any controversy on this issue. The government will decide which to do first. Whatever the government wants will happen.

Meanwhile, an online survey is being conducted on social media to generate public opinion in favor of holding local government elections first. Many people there have expressed their opinions in favor of holding local government elections before the national elections.

The anti-discrimination student movement has also expressed its opinion in favor of holding local government elections before the national elections. Many believe that local government elections can be held before the national elections, at least as a trial run, to test the capacity of the Election Commission.

Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Local Government Division, Rural Development and Cooperatives, participating in the DC conference yesterday, said, “DCs and divisional commissioners are performing additional duties in various positions in the local government. They are in trouble because of this. They want local elections. They want local elections to be held before the national elections. This was also discussed in the meeting of the Consensus Commission with the political parties. No decision was made there. The government is looking into the matter. Because, local elections are also necessary to maintain law and order and ensure a fair national election.”

Earlier, at a program on January 26, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said, “It will take a year for local elections. We have not started preparations for that. The government has not requested it either. Why should I waste a year?’

BNP will not accept any election before the national election, the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has made it clear. He said at an event, ‘No election will be allowed before the national government election. If local government elections are held before, Awami League will rise up. Problems will start. The people of the country will not accept local elections before the national election.’

After a meeting with the Election Commission on February 13 amid the controversy over the election, Jamaat-e-Islam Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, ‘The people want local governments to be functional, we also want local elections to be held before the national election.’

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