Local government polls: BNP lags behind Jamaat-led alliance in preparations

As political discussions surrounding the upcoming local government elections gather pace, the ruling BNP appears to be trailing the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance in terms of grassroots mobilisation and organisational readiness.

The Jamaat-led alliance, along with its ally National Citizen Party (NCP), has already stepped up organisational activities in several districts, focusing on strengthening municipality, union parishad and ward-level committees, identifying prospective candidates and expanding public outreach programmes ahead of the expected polls.

By contrast, BNP leaders and activists in many areas are still waiting for clearer instructions from the party high command regarding electoral strategy, including the process for selecting candidates.

The delay has sparked concerns among some aspiring BNP candidates over the party’s preparedness at the grassroots level.

Sources from both sides said the opposition alliance has been regularly holding coordination meetings and increasing communication with local workers and supporters, while BNP remains largely occupied with national political issues and internal organisational restructuring.

Although the Election Commission has yet to announce a formal schedule for the local government elections, political activity surrounding the polls is already intensifying across the country.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said the government should organise local government elections within this year.

Speaking to reporters after attending the third day of the Deputy Commissioners’ conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on 5 May, he said the government was planning to hold elections to all tiers of local government bodies within a year, including city corporations, district councils, upazila parishads, municipalities and union parishads.

Earlier, on 18 February, he had also called on the government to arrange local government elections at the earliest opportunity.

Speaking to The Daily Sun, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and spokesperson Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair said the party had begun preparations for local government elections immediately after the 13th parliamentary election.

“We have instructed all local units across the country to identify potential candidates based on popularity, honesty and dedication. Around 50% of candidates have already been announced, and they are engaged in mass contact programmes,” he said.

Jamaat, which contested the 12 February national election in alliance with 10 other parties, is continuing anti-government programmes under the coalition banner on several issues, including implementation of the referendum verdict in line with the July National Charter.

Replying to a question, Ehsanul said the alliance’s policy-making body had recently decided to contest the elections independently.

He also urged the government to hold local government elections as soon as possible, arguing that people were being deprived of services due to the absence of elected representatives in local bodies.

Meanwhile, parliament has approved the interim administration’s proposal to remove party symbols from local government elections, meaning the polls will now be conducted using individual electoral symbols.

Welcoming the decision, Ehsanul said local government elections would serve as a key political test for all parties in assessing organisational strength and grassroots public support.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has also intensified its preparations, announcing on Sunday a list of 100 preliminary candidates for upazila parishad and municipal elections, while urging the government to publish a clear electoral roadmap and schedule.

The party said it had initially selected candidates for upazila chairman and municipal mayoral posts across Rangpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Dhaka North and South, Faridpur, Khulna, Barishal, Cumilla and Chattogram, and plans to unveil another 100 candidates on 20 May.

Earlier, on 29 March, the NCP announced mayoral candidates for five city corporations, nominating Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain for Dhaka South, Ariful Islam Adib for Dhaka North, Tarikul Islam for Cumilla, Abdur Rahman Afzal for Sylhet and Mobashwer Ali for Rajshahi.

Talking to The Daily Sun, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Imran Saleh Prince said holding local government elections requires substantial budgetary allocation and extensive administrative preparations.

“Our government is only around three months into its tenure. Right now, our priority is restructuring public administration rather than preparing for local government elections,” he said.