Noman Mosharef :
In an unprecedented move, opposition political parties have announced their decision to boycott the upcoming sixth phase of the Upazila parish elections, slated to be held in four phases.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has cited concerns over what they deem an unfair electoral environment under the incumbent government, branding them as ‘vote riggers’.
The BNP has actively urged citizens across the country to refrain from attending polling stations, drawing parallels to the contentious one-sided parliament election held on January 7.
Election experts have also weighed in, expressing their reservations about the implications of holding upazila parish elections without participation from opposition parties, as they termed the upazila election a ‘farce’.
Local governance expert Dr. Tofayel Ahmed has sharply criticised the process, describing it as nothing short of an electoral facade.
“There is no semblance of a genuine electoral system or environment in the country; rather, it can only be described as electoral drama,” remarked Dr. Ahmed.
He went on to assert that the upazila parishad polls are a wasteful expenditure of public funds, highlighting the absence of a competitive election landscape with only one party dominating the field.
The absence of opposition participation raises significant questions about the legitimacy and fairness of these elections, echoing concerns previously voiced during the contentious January 7 polls.
The upcoming phases of the upazila parishad elections now stand under scrutiny amid widespread apprehension about the credibility of the electoral process.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, the Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN): Citizens for Good Governance, has unleashed scathing criticism against the ruling party, condemning what he perceives as the destruction of the political and electoral systems in Bangladesh.
Majumdar likened the ongoing upazila parishad election to the controversial January 7 parliament election, alleging that both are unfolding in a one-sided and staged manner.
Describing the upazila parishad elections as another farce, he lamented the loss of faith among the populace in the Election Commission (EC) and the electoral process itself.
His remarks drew a sharp response from Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, who was quoted as saying that it’s not the EC’s responsibility to monitor which parties participate in the election—a statement Majumdar deemed unfitting for someone in such a high constitutional position. According to Majumdar, the CEC is duty-bound to ensure a free, fair, and neutral environment for all participating parties.
The first phase of the sixth Upazila Parishad Election is scheduled to proceed on Wednesday, encompassing balloting across 139 upazilas spanning 59 districts. Voting will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. without interruption.
Over 1,630 candidates, including approximately 570 vying for chairman positions, are competing for 417 posts—comprising chairman, vice chairman, and women vice chairman roles in each upazila.
