Awami League thinks BNP will come to the election in the end despite their declaration of not participating in upcoming national election without the presence of non-partisan government. And keeping in mind the chance of BNP’s participation in the election, AL has been taking the matter as challenges. So, the party will nominate its candidates for upcoming parliamentary election upon verifying the condition of the constitution and aspiring candidates. Alternative candidates for each constitution have also been got ready. Assuming BNP will participate in the election, AL has been scrutinizing the list of the aspiring candidates. The party aiming at selecting the candidates who are acceptable to all and capable of coming out as winners facing hard competition.
According to the sources, AL President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is inquiring about interested candidates from various organizations, individuals and party ahead of the 12th national parliament elections. The Prime Minister has already mentioned the issue several times in the special extended meeting of the party, the meeting of the executive committee and the meeting of the parliamentary committee. According to the Awami League president, the nomination (in the next election) will be based on the survey. The one who is ahead in popularity will be nominated. Being in the current parliament or being an MP multiple times does not guarantee that he will get the nomination this time too.
Sources related to the Prime Minister's office and Ganabhaban said most of the current MPs of Awami League have become controversial or alienated in one way or another. The situation is such that only the local leaders and workers of their own party in the area can take a stand against them in the election. Some have formed their own forces by excluding the leaders and workers who have left the party. Again, MPs from many parties of the present parliament have attacked many leaders and activists despite having party positions and titles because they are not on their sides. Such complaints raised against not only MPs, but also several ministers and the complaints have been filed in party president Sheikh Hasina's office. Many facts and allegations have also been found to be true after extensive scrutiny of the incidents.
Talking to several leaders at the policy-making level of Awami League, it is known that in the upcoming elections, MPs will be nominated based on their records. Those who have been controversial, who do not have party leaders and workers on their side, will not be nominated this time. So, the leaders of the policy-making forum of the party say that whatever the BNP says, they are preparing for the elections. As a result, Awami League candidates will be nominated upon observing the candidates-list of BNP. As the people of the constituency or the party leaders are not happy with many MPs who have been in power for three terms, they will not be nominated this time.
On the other hand, in constituencies that consist of two or more upazilas, candidates of BNP can be nominated by considering the area and voters as there is a risk if the BNP candidate from the upazila where the number of voters is high and Awami League candidate from the low voter area. Top leaders of the party say that although regionalism is not a factor in the national elections, some apprehensions still exist. There are many people in the root-level who are popular irrespective of party affiliation. That's why Awami League will give the boatman (the candidates who will get Boat symbol) this time by getting seats.
It is known that due to being in state power for the third consecutive term, the internal conflicts, factions and groupings of the Awami League in the district and upazila are now a visible reality. In the root-level, there has been an increase in the competition of multifaceted constituency-based politics including 'Bhai League', 'MP League' etc. On the other hand, many have drawn the controversial people from the BNP-Jamaat families in various ways to strengthen their own group or circle. As a result, many of the party's dedicated, hard-working, tried or hard-pressed leaders have become inactive. In this challenging election, the leaders and workers of all levels of the party can be brought to the field that matter will be kept in mind while nominating candidates. The leader whose nomination will favor the flow of votes will be the skipper of boats (symbol). The party's high command has also indicated that new faces can be seen in hundreds of constituencies.
In this context, Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak told Bangladesh Pratidin, "Our leader Sheikh Hasina has been leading this party for a long time. Everything is at his fingertips. That's why she organizes everything in a timely manner, be it a party or nomination in the election. This time too she will arrange it in the same way. Preference will be given to candidates who are honest and fearless. All records are with the leader. She is taking records by conducting field survey repeatedly. According to that protocol, if there is a complaint against a leader, no one will be spared, no matter how big a leader he is, no one will be spared.'
According to party sources, many MP-ministers of Awami League have been openly opposing boat candidates after their loyal leaders were denied in nomination in local government elections several times. It has emerged in the party field survey that the condition of the respective constituencies of those MPs or ministers is also fragile. Because after winning the 11th National Parliamentary elections, many MP-ministers have become alienated as a result of their controversial activities. Due to their misconduct, many of dedicated, hardworking and tried-and-tested leaders of root level who were active in the movement-struggle in difficult times have turned away from politics. In this context, Awami League presidium member Abdur Rahman told The Bangladesh Pratidin, 'The 12th national election is a challenge for us. There is no alternative to uniting leaders-activists to face this challenge. Controversial leaders will not be exempted in any way. They will face organizational punishment. Those MPs-ministers who have caused rift among leaders will not be nominated this time.”
(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 9 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque)
