With the official campaign period set to end tonight, parts of Bagerhat district are approaching Monday’s union parishad elections buzzing with anticipation. Despite the BNP’s refusal to participate significantly reducing the competitive edge to the p0lls, the presence of Awami League rebel candidates in a number of unions – more than the Jatiya Party candidates – has meant that not all the ruling party-backed candidates can afford to take things easy. Aware of the potential for embarrassment, the AL  central command has not shied away from coming down hard against their rebel candidates. So far, the party has sacked 22 chairman candidates for mounting rebel candidacies upon failing to secure the party’s official backing. Also read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings Postponed due to Covid, the elections to 161 Union Parishad (UPs) in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, as well as to 9 municipalities, were rescheduled for  September 20.   Bagerhat district will see elections to 65 union parishads, with an electorate numbering  9,65,472 eligible to cast their vote – although a large number of them will be deprived of the opportunity even, to exercise their right to franchise.   This is because returning officers at as many as 39 of these unions have already declared the ruling party candidates as unopposed victors. In the remaining 26 unions, electronic voting machines (EVM) will be deployed for four of the UP elections, that are spread across Fakirhat, Rampal and Mongla upazilas. Bagerhat District Awami League General Secretary Bhuiyan Hemayet Uddin said that the party has taken a zero tolerance policy towards the rebel candidates – clearly the AL’s biggest, or perhaps even only headache ahead of the polls. “Already 22 have been sacked from AL, more will follow if they don’t comply,” Bhuiyan said. UNB talked separately with the chairman candidates at Lokpur Union Parishadm in Fakirhat upazila. Also read: Now state ‘backs corruption’: BNP MD Selim Reza of Awami League, Imran Sikder of Jatiya Party, and independent candidate Gazi Mohammad, all sounded optimistic of securing victory in a battle for voter’s minds. On the other hand, Sheikh Mahitur Rahman Paltan, already the chairman-elect of Karapara Union within Bagerhat Sadar thanks to an unopposed election, said that the reason behind no other candidate running for the post was their fear of certain defeat – that he at least believes to be well-founded. Talking to UNB, Bagerhat District Election Officer Farazi Benzir Ahmed said, “The Election Commission has taken all preparations to ensure a peaceful election. Police, BGB, Rab, executive magistrates and Ansar personnel will be posted at key points of the district to ensure that.”