Anyone who fulfils the legal requirements will be allowed to contest the upcoming local government elections, as the polls will not be fought on a party basis, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam said on Thursday.
His remarks came in response to questions about whether leaders and activists of the Awami League would be allowed to participate in the elections.
“There is no question of contesting here as an Awami League candidate. There is no opportunity to participate in the election on a party basis. There will be no party nomination or party symbol,” he told reporters at the Secretariat.
Asked about the government’s position on the participation of Awami League leaders and activists, the state minister said the rules would apply equally to everyone.
“The government’s message is clear. Since this is not a party-based election, everyone who is legally eligible to contest as a valid candidate will be able to participate,” he said.
Shahe Alam also referred to the BNP’s decision to support candidates at the local level instead of contesting the elections as a political party.
He said an upazila-level BNP unit could choose a single candidate for each union, while the party’s central leadership had instructed local leaders to make every effort to ensure that there is only one BNP-backed candidate in each union.
The state minister said the government would assist the Election Commission in holding the local government elections in a free, fair and neutral manner.
He added that both the local and central administrations would provide necessary support to ensure security for all legally eligible candidates and facilitate their election campaigns.
