All eligible candidates can contest local polls

Collected Photo

Any candidate who meets the legal requirements will be allowed to contest local government elections, regardless of political affiliation, as the polls will not be held on a party basis, said State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Thursday.He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after a meeting with British High Commissioner Sarah Cook.

Local Government Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan and State Minister Shahe Alam attended the meeting.

Asked about the BNP’s position if leaders or activists of the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned, contest the local government elections, Shahe Alam said they would not be contesting under the Awami League banner.

“They are not contesting as the Awami League. There is no scope for participating in the election on a party basis. There will be no party nominations or party symbols.

The state minister said the BNP has decided to support candidates at the local level. He said an upazila-level BNP unit could select a supported candidate for a particular union.

The BNP’s highest policymaking level has also instructed local leaders to make every effort to ensure that the party has a single supported candidate in each union, he said.

However, Shahe Alam said the BNP would not take any separate formal position in the local government elections.

He said the government’s role would be to assist the Election Commission in holding free, fair and impartial elections.

“As the election is not being held on a party basis, the local administration and central administration will assist the Election Commission in ensuring the security of all legally eligible candidates and enabling them to conduct their campaigns properly,” he state minister added.