Quader hopes UZ polls to be competitive, participatory

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today hoped that the upcoming upazila parishad election would be a competitive and participatory one as many parties would take part in it.

“Upazila parishad elections are local government polls. Naturally, local government election witnesses participation of a large number of candidates. So, even If BNP does not join it, many parties would participate in the polls,” he told newsmen while visiting the party’s nomination distribution
for UZ polls at the AL president’s Dhanmondi political office.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said there would be very little chance of winning the polls uncontested.

About BNP’s participation in the polls, Quader said BNP officially announced the party’s decision not to join any polls under the Awami League government.

But ward level leaders of BNP have submitted nomination papers for election to posts of ward councilor in Dhaka north and south city corporations, Quader claimed saying though the polls to councilor posts will be held on non-party basis, they are in the election.

“It cannot be said that BNP is not in the political field entirely. The party leaders can submit nomination papers as independent candidates in the upazila election,” he said.

The AL general secretary said now BNP is a scattered and perplexed party following its massive defeat in the December 30 national election.

“BNP now can’t decide what they should do or should not,” he observed.