Local Government Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has hinted the law could be amended to allow the holding of local government elections along party lines.
Published : 03 Mar 2014, 06:23 PM
The existing law does not allow aspirants to contest under the banner of political parties but they actively participate in the race, starting from the nomination of candidates to campaigning.
The senior Awami League (AL) leader gave the indication at a time when the Upazila Parishad polls are being held across the country.
“Why should one be barred from using one's party’s name and poll symbol in the local government elections? Why this hide and seek?” asked the AL general secretary on Monday at a party event in Dhaka.
He said the media refers to political parties to identify candidates while reporting on local government elections. “How do we know they are Awami League or BNP men?” he asked.
Syed Ashraf said it was important to change the law to make the local government bodies effective. “I hope we’ll soon table a draft bill in Parliament on this.”
He said those against letting political parties play their role in local body governance were not committed to democracy.
A local government body is ruled by a single person, said the minister, adding that the elections should be held like the national polls.
Ashraf claimed that no municipal election was free and fair under the previous government led by BNP chief Khaleda Zia.
“She doesn’t believe in Upazila,” he said.
“There were elected Upazila councils in 1991 when she formed government. She dissolved the councils and sacked all the chairmen. Why, then, has she joined the (ongoing Upazila) polls?”
Ashraf against affidavits
Politicians’ character was being assassinated by publishing their affidavits submitted to the Election Commission before joining any polls, the AL general secretary alleged and said the relevant law should be amended.
“A politician is projected as corrupt, grabber and terrorist through the affidavit. It is being done to defame politicians,” he said.
The Anti Corruption Commission has launched probes into the alleged corruption of several politicians following media reports based on their affidavits submitted to the EC.
Ashraf said the law concerning affidavits was being reviewed.