by Mohiuddin Alamgir in The Daily Star, June 13, 2023
Only five out of the total 41 political parties that are registered with the Election Commission are participating in the ongoing five city corporation elections. The opposition parties boycotting the elections made it non-participatory and less competitive, according to political analysts.
The series of city elections started with the Gazipur city polls on May 25.
The Barishal and Khulna city polls have taken place yesterday, while the Sylhet and Rajshahi city polls are scheduled for June 21.
In the Gazipur polls, a total of eight candidates took part in the elections, of whom, three were independent. The ruling Awami League, the main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jaker Party and Ganafront fielded their candidates in the electoral race.
Sources from the EC said four parties — Awami League, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jaker Party — nominated their candidates in the Barishal, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet polls.
Former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said so many political parties deciding not to participate in the polls have made them less competitive.
“BNP, a major political party, and their alliance members are not taking part in the election due to their lack of confidence in the Election Commission. On the other hand, many political parties do not have the capacity and human resources to participate in the polls, resulting in overall lower participation,” he said.
During a meeting held on May 15, the BNP standing committee officially decided to boycott the city polls, saying the five city polls ahead of the national elections are motivated, according to a press release signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Stating that no election can be neutral, free and fair under the AL government, the BNP policymakers said the city polls will also be controlled by the government, hindering them from reflecting public opinion.
BNP and like-minded political parties have been on the streets since December 24 last year to realise their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the incumbent government and the national elections under a nonpartisan caretaker government.
The party has not contested any election under the government since March 2021.
In 2022, going beyond the party decision, BNP leaders Taimur Alam Khandaker and Monirul Haque Sakku contested the last polls to Narayanganj and Cumilla city corporations as independent candidates. Both of them lost the polls and were expelled from the party.
In 2018, AL candidates won four mayoral posts, while a BNP nominee bagged one. The opposition party’s candidates won all five mayoral polls in those cities in 2013.
Asked about whether the city polls are turning one-sided in the absence of the major opposition parties, Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana said, “There is no scope for the Election Commission to bring anyone in the electoral race. Participation from every party surely makes it more competitive.”
“However, if that does not happen, we have to conduct the polls either way. We do not have the option to stop working on the polls,” she added.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/only-5-out-41-parties-city-polls-3344826
