Staff Reporter :
At least 62 candidates of ruling Awami League have been elected uncontested as Union Parishad (UP) chairmen.
The Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Farhad Hossain said on Sunday that they got a walkover in the absence of rival candidates in the contest.
Assistant Commissioner of EC Ashfaqur Rahman said that the local election authorities had declared the names of the uncontested winners and sent the list.
Voting will be held in 732 Union Councils in the first phase of the polls on March 22. The BNP has not fielded candidates in 70 councils.
The party alleges that its candidates were unable to submit nominations due to the ruling party’s intimidations and obstacles.
Awami League leaders, however, say the BNP is running short of candidates.
But the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, an Awami League ally, has accused the EC of failing to play its ‘due role’ to ensure a fair election.
“The Election Commission is amply empowered, but it is unable to play the role,” said party Chief Rashed Khan Menon, who is also a Cabinet member.
“Irregularities had been reported over the municipal polls (held earlier), including the stuffing of ballot boxes and capturing booths but the Commission paid no heed,” he said.
After the scrutiny of nomination papers, altogether 3,035 candidates are left in the fray for chairmen’s posts in the first phase of the UP polls. Another 30,000 aspirants will run for union council members.
At least 62 candidates of ruling Awami League have been elected uncontested as Union Parishad (UP) chairmen.
The Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Farhad Hossain said on Sunday that they got a walkover in the absence of rival candidates in the contest.
Assistant Commissioner of EC Ashfaqur Rahman said that the local election authorities had declared the names of the uncontested winners and sent the list.
Voting will be held in 732 Union Councils in the first phase of the polls on March 22. The BNP has not fielded candidates in 70 councils.
The party alleges that its candidates were unable to submit nominations due to the ruling party’s intimidations and obstacles.
Awami League leaders, however, say the BNP is running short of candidates.
But the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, an Awami League ally, has accused the EC of failing to play its ‘due role’ to ensure a fair election.
“The Election Commission is amply empowered, but it is unable to play the role,” said party Chief Rashed Khan Menon, who is also a Cabinet member.
“Irregularities had been reported over the municipal polls (held earlier), including the stuffing of ballot boxes and capturing booths but the Commission paid no heed,” he said.
After the scrutiny of nomination papers, altogether 3,035 candidates are left in the fray for chairmen’s posts in the first phase of the UP polls. Another 30,000 aspirants will run for union council members.
