United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman on Tuesday said individuals associated with Awami League can participate in the upcoming local government elections, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and do not campaign on behalf of the party. He made the remarks when asked whether the government would allow Awami League (now facing ban on its activities) to take part in the upcoming local government elections at a press conference held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at Secretariat on the progress of various government activities. Dr. Zahed said there would be no obstacle to individuals contesting the polls as the elections would be conducted on a non-party basis. “There is no problem at all. If a person wants to participate in the election and fulfils the required criteria, he or she can contest,” he said. Replying to a question about candidates who may still hold positions in Awami League, the adviser said as the party’s organisational activities remain banned such positions cannot be used in any official or political capacity. “Since organisational activities of the Awami League are prohibited, those positions cannot be used. However, as individuals, anyone who fulfils the necessary criteria and wishes to contest the election may do so,” he said. He said the government has no reason to prevent any eligible individual from participating in the local government elections.  

The local government elections will now be held dropping party symbols as a proposal in this regard was approved by the Council of Advisers on Thursday. The proposal for scrapping the provisions for using party symbols in the elections of city corporations, upazilas, pourashavas (municipalities), and union parishad was approved at a meeting of the Council of Advisers. Eliminating unemployment is our biggest challenge: Adviser Asif Mahmud Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy. "We are returning to the previous system (when local polls used to take place without party symbols)," the Law Adviser said, noting that the party symbols were introduced by the previous government. Magazine containing bullet found in Asif Mahmud's travel bag at Shahjalal; from licensed firearm, he says