Activities banned AL can't take part in local govt polls: Shahe Alam

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Mir Shahe Alam has said the Awami League has no scope to participate in elections as an organisation whose activities have been banned.
“As long as the ban on this party remains in place, the fascist Awami League and its affiliated organisations have no right to participate in any political programme in Bangladesh, let alone contest elections. If they do so, they will face action under the law. Law enforcement agencies will take action against them,” he said on Friday after releasing fish fry into a pond on the premises of the Shibganj Upazila Parishad in Bogura.
The state minister also said he felt uncomfortable when asked questions about a banned organisation. “It is not appropriate or even right to ask questions about the Awami League at this moment because the Awami League is a banned organisation,” he said.
On local government elections, Shahe Alam said the country’s democratic institutions and electoral system had suffered during the previous authoritarian regime. He said one of the main mandates of the present government was to hold five local government elections in a free, fair and impartial manner.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed that the elections be made acceptable to the people, he said. Around Tk6,000 crore has been allocated in the budget, while the Election Commission is making preparations.
Shahe Alam said the amended law would have no provision for party nominations or symbols, and elections would be held using common symbols.
He said the BNP had decided to support a single candidate in each area to maintain its “chain of command” at the grassroots level. If multiple candidates contest a union, efforts will be made to reach a local consensus, he said.