DHAKA — After the national parliamentary vote, local government elections are now in the political spotlight, and opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami is making extensive preparations. Although the appointment of ruling-party administrators to 11 city corporations and 42 district councils has caused resentment and uncertainty among stakeholders, Jamaat is pushing the demand for local elections while advancing its own preparations.
Although the party joined the national parliamentary election as part of an 11-party alliance, it is preparing to contest the local government elections independently. Reports indicate that several other parties in the alliance are making similar preparations. Jamaat has reportedly finalized candidates for nearly all city corporation councilor positions, upazila council chairman and vice chairman posts, and union council chairman and member posts. Prospective candidates are conducting outreach in their areas, including community service activities. Mayoral candidates for city corporations have not yet been finalized, but prospective candidates are continuing their efforts.
Sources said the long-running absence of elected representatives since the post-July 2024 uprising has affected relevant institutions. Jamaat and other parties had demanded local government elections before the national vote, but the interim government did not accept the demand due to BNP’s opposition. Stakeholders had expected the new government to hold local elections quickly after the national vote. But hopes were dashed by the appointment of administrators to various posts. Jamaat protested the move, saying the government has disrupted democratic processes through politicized appointments and called the move unconstitutional, demanding quick local elections.
Asked about preparations for the local government elections, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim said: “We are preparing for local government elections. Now candidates will be selected on a single-party basis. If any new decision is made later, changes will follow.”
He added: “After the July uprising, we demanded local elections before the national vote. We had started preparations accordingly. Building on that work, candidates will be finalized.”
Sources said Jamaat-e-Islami took part in the Feb. 12 national election as part of the 11-party alliance. Jamaat won 68 seats, the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) won six, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis won two and Khelafat Majlis won one. After the election, Jamaat emerged as the parliamentary opposition with 77 seats as part of the alliance.
Like Jamaat, several other alliance parties have begun preparing for local elections. The NCP has announced five mayoral candidates so far.
Asked about the matter, 11-party alliance coordinator and Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad said no decision has been made on contesting local elections as an alliance. But preparations from Jamaat’s side are continuing, he said.
Jamaat Amir and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called the local elections the “second battle.” Before Eid, at a party event in Sylhet, he directed leaders and workers to prepare for local government elections. “Our first battle was the national election, and the second battle will begin with local government elections. We must not leave any seat empty in this fight,” he said. At a March 25 discussion at the National Press Club, he sharply criticized the appointment of administrators to city corporations and district councils and called on the government to allow representatives to fulfill their duties through elections.
Sources said the matter was discussed at a March 1 meeting of Jamaat’s central executive council, which directed full preparations for the elections. Work is proceeding accordingly.
Sources in Jamaat said grassroots input will be taken into account, and popular candidates will be nominated under established rules. Central leaders will choose mayoral candidates. Regional leaders will choose upazila council candidates. Union-level candidates will be finalized by district branches.
Councilor candidates finalized in two Dhaka cities
Jamaat is giving special attention to the elections in Dhaka’s two city corporations. The party has finalized nearly all councilor candidates, including reserved seats for women, in both Dhaka North and South. They are conducting outreach activities, including putting up greeting posters in their areas. Mayoral candidates have not been announced, though prospective candidates are making their own preparations.
Dhaka South Jamaat Acting Amir Adv. Dr. Helal Uddin said: “There is uncertainty about when the election will be held. But Jamaat is preparing for the Dhaka South City Corporation election. Of 75 wards, councilor candidates for about 70 have been finalized. They are working in their respective areas. From the central level, no mayoral candidate has yet been announced. Some believe the candidate may come from those who contested the parliamentary election in this city area.”
Echoing similar comments, Dhaka North Jamaat Acting Amir Abdur Rahman Musa said most councilor candidates in this city have been announced. They have printed posters and conveyed greetings to the public ahead of Eid. They are also conducting various outreach activities. While the mayoral candidate has not been announced, the previous candidate, Dhaka North Amir Mohammad Salim Uddin, is likely to receive the nomination, he said. He is already conducting community service activities in his area. Salim was also a North City mayoral candidate in 2018.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report