Nearly two years after being ousted by a mass uprising and the subsequent ban on its political activities, Awami League is now seeking to regain its footing in politics through the upcoming local government elections.
Although not holding any posts in the party, several of its strong supporters and influential local figures are preparing to run as independent candidates. However, fearing attacks and legal proceedings, many have refrained from publicly announcing their candidacies.
Despite this, leaders from BNP and Jamaat dismiss the possibility of Awami League participation, citing the party’s current ban under anti-terrorism laws, which they believe will be extended permanently.
Speculation surrounding the local election dates has persisted since the formation of the current government. However, before any answers can be given, the issue of whether political symbols will be used has surfaced.
State Minister for the local government Mir Shahe Alam has recently confirmed at multiple events that political symbols will not be allowed in the local elections.
This decision is expected to shift the focus from party-based to individual-based politics at the local level, where a candidate’s personal appeal will become more critical than party affiliation, according to election experts.
Election expert Abdul Alim, a former member of the interim government’s electoral reform commission, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Local government elections should not use party symbols. Party symbols tend to overshadow individual candidates and give too much influence to the party. Without them, merit-based qualifications will take centre stage.”
Regarding Awami League’s participation, Alim added, “Without party symbols, some of their supporters might get a chance to run, and there’s no way they can be excluded from the elections.”
Many former Awami League leaders, although there are not holding posts in the party but still influential locally, are quietly preparing to run as independent candidates. They are reconnecting with voters and reactivating old political networks.
However, most are hesitant to publicly announce their candidacy, fearing attacks, arrests, and legal cases. One potential AL chairman candidate from Kakalnaga Union in Kalara Upazila, Satkhira, said, “The situation is not entirely favourable yet, but we’ll leverage our strong relationship with the public and join the elections if the opportunity arises.”
AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, who has been living abroad since the fall of their government, spoke to TIMES via phone, saying, “If no party symbols are used, many of our people may get the chance to participate in the elections. But more importantly, we want to return to politics. We are questioning why our party remains banned, despite those who speak about democracy.”
He added, “Our politics is not just dependent on symbols; our relationship with the people is our biggest strength. We will return from that place.”
On the other hand, BNP and Jamaat leaders downplay the possibility of Awami League’s participation in the elections. They argue that the party remains banned under anti-terrorism laws, which they believe will be formalised into permanent legislation.
BNP Vice-Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon said, “It is unrealistic for anyone from a legally banned party to participate in elections. The Election Commission and courts will give the final decision. We will not concern ourselves with it before that.”
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahbub Zubair said, “Parties banned under anti-terrorism laws will not be allowed to participate in the elections. This will be addressed later.”
Under the previous AL government, a decision was made on 30 November 2015 to conduct local government elections using party symbols. The move was controversial at the time, with BNP and Jamaat strongly opposing it, arguing that it undermined the local government system’s independence.
The current government’s appointment of administrators to various city corporations and district councils has sparked considerable debate. Opposition parties claim that these appointments were made to ensure administrative control before the elections, while the government defends the decision as necessary to maintain administrative stability.
Following the fall of the government on 5 August 2024, several administrators were appointed to city corporations, district councils, upazilas, and municipalities in quick succession. Many AL representatives in these areas were forced to leave their posts, leading to a vacuum in local governance.
