Sagar Biswas :Like as the first phase, there is apparently no contestant against Awami League candidates in 13 Union Parishads [UPs] in the second phase of polls starting on March 31. Besides, aggressive campaign by ruling party candidates have turned the polls scenario into dull where day-night campaign, meeting, sitting, sticking posters, large size banners-festoons and even use of loudspeakers are almost absent in several UPs.Reports from Patuakhali say, the AL supporters set fire on the house and crops godown of a rival candidate at Char Montaj UP under Rangabali upzila in the district on Saturday afternoon. Police said, the supporters of AL nominated candidate Hanif Mia [boat symbol] conducted the attack on AL rival candidate Nazmul Huda [horse symbol] which left about 20 others seriously injured.In Sitakunda, the AL supporters allegedly attacked BNP nominated chairman candidate Ohidul Islam Chowdhury at Baraidhala union at 10:00pm on Friday.The incidents of attack and arson took place in five other UPs of Patuakhali and Pabna on Thursday night to Friday where at least 70 persons were injured during the clashes. Of the disturbed UPs, there were AL rival candidates in four UPs and the rest one was an independent candidate. In the meanwhile, the ruling party candidates were already elected ‘uncontested’ in around 80 out of the 750 UPs with the ‘boat’ symbol in the first phase of election, which will be started on March 22. On the other hand, the condition of other major political parties, including BNP and Jatiya Party, is not ‘good’ at all. No nomination paper was submitted in favour of BNP men in 58 UPs. Besides, the JP could able to submit nomination only in 175 UPs till the date. According to EC, a total of 3,108 chairman candidates have submitted their nominations in the elections to 651 UPs to be held during the second phase scheduled for March 31.Out of the total 40 political parties, only 15 parties have registered with the EC to nominate their chairman candidates for the second phase of UP polls. Of the total chairman candidates, the political parties have nominated a total of 1,555 persons while the remaining 1,553 are independent candidates. The AL has nominated the highest 645 candidates followed by BNP which has nominated 587 chairman candidates.”We do not expect that the EC will hold the UP election in free and fair means. They [EC] are now asking police to use bullets. We doubt where the police will fire the bullets….I urge the EC to announce fresh schedule in those UPs where the BNP candidates failed to file their nomination papers,” BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Advocate Khondkar Mahbub Hossain yesterday said. The situation is really critical for the JP too. The JP could field only 175 candidates with plough symbol against 644 UPs for the second phase polls. In the first phase, they could manage only 148 candidates against 734 UPs.Interestingly, the JP leaders also blamed ruling party candidates for such troubled situation. “Our candidates are not showing any interest to take part in the polls fearing wrath of ruling party candidates. In several UPs, our candidates failed to submit their nomination papers,” said a JP leader requesting not to be named. There is widespread allegation that the ruling candidates are creating obstacles to the opponent candidates by different means in most of the UPs, but the Election Commission is not taking any visible action despite complaints. The ruling party candidates are conducting attack on opponent contenders in several UPs. Instead of running publicity, the musclemen of AL candidates are frequently threatening, harassing or assaulting rival candidates to ensure their win without any difficulty, it is also alleged.Secretary of Sushashoner Jonnyo Nagarik [SUJAN] Badiul Alam Mazumdar on Saturday said, “Partisan basis selection in the UP has opened a new business. Earlier, such businesses were dealt in parliamentary elections. Now, this has reached at grassroots level. It obviously has posed risk to democracy. It’s a 10-number danger signal.” EC sources said Islami Andolon Bangladesh has fielded 93 candidates. Besides, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal [JSD] has put 24 candidates, Bangladesh Workers Party and Jaker Party 6 each, Jatiya Party [Monju] and Bangladesh Communist Party 5 each, National Peoples Party, Islami Front and Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh 2 each, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Front and Bangladesh National Awami Party have fielded one UP chairman candidate each. Nine other political parties submitted names and signatures of their party chiefs to nominate candidates to the EC. But they did not nominate any candidate. The parties are Bangladesh Nationalist Front, Khelafat Majlish, Liberal Democratic Party, Jaitya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers party and Bangladesh Kalyan party, according to EC.
