BNP to pick local govt election candidates on four criteria

In September, the committee met leaders from the Chattogram, Barishal, Khulna, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions and sought opinions from grassroots leaders. Similar meetings with leaders from other divisions are expected soon.

The BNP will select candidates for the upcoming local government elections based on four criteria: clean image, popularity, contribution and sacrifice for the party, and chances of winning.

Senior party leaders have already conveyed the guidelines to leaders of city, district, upazila, and municipal units through Zoom meetings, party insiders said.

A four-member committee has already been formed to oversee preparations for the local elections. The committee comprises Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee member Md Ismail Zabihullah, and Special Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha. Its size may be expanded, if necessary.

The committee recently held online meetings with senior leaders from several units to assess the party’s grassroots position and issue instructions on candidate selection.

In September, the committee met leaders from the Chattogram, Barishal, Khulna, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions and sought opinions from grassroots leaders. Similar meetings with leaders from other divisions are expected soon.

At the meetings, local leaders were instructed to conduct field-level surveys before recommending candidates. Potential candidates will be scrutinised first, with lists sent to district leaders.

If irregularities or inconsistencies are found, divisional teams will review the lists. Unresolved issues will be discussed with the central leadership.

The BNP believes the process will reduce the risk of irregularities and mistakes in candidate selection.

“Preparations at the local level are complete for the local government elections,” Rizvi told TBS.

“This time, local government elections will not be held under the party symbol. We have instructed grassroots leaders to consider candidates’ engagement with people, local acceptability, and support among party leaders and activists,” he said.

He also said local leaders had been instructed to prevent multiple candidates from contesting from the same area. Union, upazila, and district leaders will scrutinise candidates and extend support to those considered suitable.

Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, an adviser to the BNP chairman, said keeping alternative candidates was a normal political strategy.

“If the Election Commission rejects a candidate’s nomination for any reason, an alternative candidate will be needed,” he said.

Following a Zoom meeting with the central leadership, BNP’s Chattogram South district unit formed a special committee on 30 September to scrutinise potential candidates.

Nazimur Rahman, member secretary of the Chattogram Metropolitan Unit of BNP, said the committees had been asked to consult senior local leaders and gather opinions from residents and party activists before submitting confidential reports to the district office.

The reports will be reviewed before final candidates are selected through consultations, he said.

The schedule for the local government elections has not yet been finalised. The government is preparing to hold the polls from early next year.

Elections will be held for union parishads, municipalities, upazila parishads, district councils, and city corporations. The government plans to begin with union parishad elections.

On 24 September, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said the Election Commission was considering holding the polls in January after students’ annual examinations, instead of November-December.

On 29 September, State Minister for LGRD Mir Shahe Alam said local government elections would begin in January and continue until 6 June, based on the Election Commission’s information. 

He said improving the law and order situation would be necessary for holding the polls.