2024-05-06 07:13:06
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered ministers and members of parliament (MPs) to refrain from influencing the upcoming upazila elections.
He gave this order at the Awami League parliamentary party meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan on Thursday (May 2) night.
Awami League parliamentary party leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the hour-long meeting.
At that time, the Prime Minister also instructed the members of parliament of Awami League to keep the party out of the family system. He said, ‘Trinamool leaders should be given a chance.’
At the same time, the Awami League president also urged everyone to respect the existing laws of the country during the elections.
The sixth upazila election is going to start on May 8. The Election Commission has said that the polls will be held in four phases. In the first phase, voting will be held in 146 upazilas.
In this year’s upazila elections, Awami League did not field candidates. The party high command has also banned the relatives of ministers and MPs from standing in the polls. However, the relatives of MP-ministers of the ruling party have been candidates in various upazilas of at least 20 districts. Allegedly, its aim is to create its own sphere of influence in local politics. The central leaders of the party have already expressed their anger in this incident.
The Election Commission is also worried that ministers and MPs can influence the polling field. In the meantime, the Commission has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly to stop the influence and interference of ministers and MPs in the Upazila Parishad elections.
Election Commissioner confirmed this information to reporters on Thursday. Alamgir said, ‘It is known that there are many relatives of honorable ministers and parliamentarians as candidates. Therefore, so that they cannot exert any influence, the Commission has brought this matter to their (Parliament’s) attention.’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a press conference on her visit to Thailand at Ganobhaban on Thursday morning also emphasized on neutral elections. He said, ‘My aim is to conduct the upazila elections in a free, fair and impartial manner and to keep it free from influence. Whoever wins will come from there. That is the reality. Whoever the people want will win. As Awami League wanted (in power) Awami League has come.’