New equation emerging at grassroots around local body polls

According to sources at the Ministry of Local Government, there are plans to the election of different tires of the local government at the end of the current fiscal year.

After forming the government with overwhelming public support, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to make the party more organised, dynamic and stronger at the grassroots level. 

Alongside taking part in development programmes in different districts, party leaders and activists are also being engaged in development work.

Special importance is now being given to the local government elections with a view to taking the benefits of development to the grassroots people and selecting acceptable leadership at the local level.

The government believes that, alongside selecting competent and popular leadership within the party, this election will help reduce the distance between grassroots leaders and activists and the common people, while increasing public engagement and a sense of responsibility towards local development and civic problems.

In this connection, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam told BSS that since preparations began for holding the local government elections, a sense of enthusiasm has grown among grassroots leaders, along with a sense of responsibility. 

He said they are taking the initiative to keep track of voters on their own, and are playing a role in repairing roads, addressing the needs of schools and colleges, and resolving various problems in their areas. As a result, direct relationships are being built between voters and local leaders and activists.

Shahe Alam said this is also increasing mutual communication and coordination among local leaders and activists. 

To gain popularity and retain voters' trust, leaders are spending time in their areas, he said, adding that they are also coming forward to resolve various local disputes and problems. 

As a result, a direct relationship of communication and accountability is being built between political leadership and the people even before the election, he opined.

Mentioning that there would be no party symbol in the local government elections this time, the state minister said as a result, voters will get the opportunity to decide based on a candidate's personal popularity, acceptability and role for the people of the area.

He said local leaders will have to reach out to the people to increase their popularity and win voters' trust.

He said although there will be no party symbol in the local government elections, there may be specific BNP-backed candidates locally. 

Importance is being given to bringing forward acceptable and popular candidates at the local level, he added.

The state minister further said the government will extend all necessary cooperation to the Election Commission to make the local government elections free, fair and impartial. 

He said even without party symbols, local people very much know which political ideology a candidate belongs. But this will not have any impact on the impartiality of the Election Commission, reports BSS.