Ehsanul Haque Jasim :The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, the two key partners of the 20-party alliance, are now maintaining silent distance about sharing seats and the electoral symbol. Sources said, the two parties are yet to reach compromise over sharing the number of mayor posts and the symbol issue.Jamaat is joining the December 30 municipal polls independently under the banner of the 20-party alliance. The party has not agreed to contest the polls with BNP’s electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’. The BNP wants Jamaat’s participation with ‘Sheaf of Paddy’, as the Election Commission (EC) did not allow the party to join the polls under its banner. Jamaat leaders said that, the party had taken the decision of fielding its mayor candidates as independent ones, as it did not receive the letter from the EC which was sent to other registered political parties over the polls issue. The EC on November 25 sent the letter. The EC said that they wouldn’t allow Jamaat in the municipal (pourashabha) polls, as the High Court declared the party’s registration illegal. Earlier in a meeting of the 20-party alliance, Jamaat agreed to take part in the polls jointly with a common symbol.BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman on Wednesday said that although other partners, including Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar faction), will contest the polls with ‘Sheaf of Paddy’, Jamaat took the decision to join the race by fielding independent candidates. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will take final decision in this regard, he added. BNP’s grassroots leaders and workers also created pressure on Jamaat to take part in the polls with ‘Sheaf of Paddy’. AKM Oliullah, Jamaat-backed candidate in Kanaighat (Sylhet) Municipal polls, said, “Many BNP men requested me to join the polls with sheaf of paddy. I have nothing to do, as my party asked me to contest the polls with independent symbol.”Most of the candidates will file nomination today (Thursday), the last date for submission of candidature. The BNP and the Jamaat fear that nomination of their leaders may be cancelled in several places as per wish of the government. They are also in fear of arrest of their leaders, who are mainly candidates. In this situation, the two parties will put alternative or dummy candidates in all municipalities so that they can easily replace their candidates in the event of cancellation of one’s nomination during scrutiny. The dummy candidates will be taken from the party or alliance partners and they will get 20-party alliance’s support, a BNP leader said.BNP’s current spokesman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon said, the government is arresting selected candidates of the BNP and its allies. Referring to the arrest of Mymensingh’s Nandail municipal incumbent Mayor and BNP’s nominated candidate Azizul Islam who was arrested on Monday, Dr Ripon said that such hostile behaviour indicates that the authorities may cancel nomination of opposition candidates as per whims of the government. In such situation, the BNP would have nothing to do except boycotting the polls or extending support to others, he said. Jamaat leader AKM Oliullah said that he could not go to his area for fear of arrest. He also expressed fear of cancellation of his nomination. When asked the reason, he said, “The authorities can do anything as per wish of the government.” Meanwhile, Jamaat is fielding candidates in nearly 35 municipalities out of 236. But BNP wants to share 20-22 mayor posts with Jamaat. The two parties are yet to reach any understanding over sharing the number of mayor posts and the symbol issue. Leaders of the parties said that the issue would be resolved soon.
