No contest for 20 Awami League- backed candidates in district council elections

Twenty candidates backed by Awami League are set to win without contest in the district council election but the number may rise even further.

In the remaining 41 districts, they were contesting against candidates of their own party or allies from the ruling coalition, according to list by the Election Commission (EC).

The number could rise further after deadline for withdrawing nominations ends on Dec 11, said EC officials.

It previously said Awami League-backed candidates were set to win unopposed in 12 districts.

The BNP and the Jatiya Party are not taking part in the elections to be held in all 61 districts on Dec 28.

Election Commission Director SM Asaduzzaman told bdnews24.com that 190 chairman candidates have submitted nomination papers for the 61 districts excluding three in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Name of districts after scrutiny of nomination papers:

# One candidate: Bagerhat, Barguna, Bhola, Dhaka, Chittagong, Dinajpur, Gazipur, Habiganj, Joypurhat, Jessore, Jhalakathhi, Kishoreganj, Munshiganj, Naogaon, Narayanganj, Natore, Netrokona, Sirajganj, Sherpur, Thakurgaon.

# Two candidates: Bogra, Brahmanbarhia, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Faridpur, Feni, Gopalganj, Kurhigram, Madaripur, Nilfamari, Satkhira, Tangail, Kushtia, Narsingdi, Rangpur, and Shariatpur.

# Three candidates: Khulna, Magura, Mymensingh, Patuakhali, and Rajshahi.

# Four candidates: Barisal, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Lokkhipur, Meherpur, Norhail, Noakhali, Pabna, Pirojpur, Rajbarhi, Sunamganj, Sylhet and Lalmonirhat.

# Five candidates: Gaibandha, Manikganj and Moulvibazar.

# Six candidates: Chandpur and Chapainawabganj.

There are seven candidates in Jamalpur and eight in Panchagarh.

More than one candidate of the ruling party and members of the grand alliance have submitted nominations in rest of the 41 districts.

But several of them were negotiating with the Awami League to secure victory by ending up as the only ones in the fray.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif told bdnews24.com: "We can support the candidates since this election is going to be held on party lines. The names of the party-backed candidates have already been disclosed. We hope that the party leaders and activists will support them."

Seeking anonymity, one leader said there was no way to take any action against the rebel candidates.

"They are contesting the elections at many locations; we are trying to pursue them to withdraw, " said the leader.

JaSaD supported candidate Khadimul Islam Khudi in Gaibandha said there was no pressure from the party. The ruling party, he said, was yet to order them to step back.

Now there are 137 candidates to be elected uncontested in the general posts and 51 in the reserved women posts, said EC officials.

Elected representatives from other local government bodies like municipalities, city corporations, Upazila councils and union councils in corresponding districts will vote to elect the district council chairmen.