SEVEN Ward Councillor candidates of upcoming Chattogram City Corporation elections, all of them are leaders and activists of the ruling party and its associate organisations, are known as patrons of several juvenile terror gangs. Interestingly, of the seven candidates two are contesting in the polls getting tickets from Awami League and the rest five are ‘rebel’ candidates of the same party. A local daily yesterday also reported that one of the contenders is contesting in the election by staying in jail. Already concerned circles of Chattogram have expressed their anxiety fearing possible violence during the polls as most of the candidates have direct connection with the underworld. According to the report, the RAB made a list of 48 patrons (or political leaders) of juvenile terror gangs in September last year. Now several of the listed criminals are active to grasp the post of Councillors.
We’re not even slightly surprised that criminals are contesting in the election. And it is also not a matter of surprise that party-nominated alleged godfathers will obviously be made Councillors of CCC despite voters’ apathy. The present politics of keeping the people in fear the government party needs them as a tool of repression. Now, politics is no longer honest people’s pursuit. Elections are not anymore free for the people to vote and choose their trusted ones. The people have lost faith in the election process. A gulf exists between the people and government in absence of trust between the two. The so-called elected ones will know that they are not the people’s representatives. Services to the people are no consideration for them.
The elections are a waste of public money for non pubic purposes. They know that they need help of police to win election.
