The family members and relatives of the local MP-minister did not move from the election field despite the strict instructions of the Awami League President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On the last day of withdrawal of nomination papers of the first phase upazila parishad election, no one except two people withdrew their nomination. The responsible leaders of the party are embarrassed and angry.

They are preparing a list of MP-ministers and their relatives who have disobeyed the instructions. The party’s central executive meeting will be held on April 30. In the meeting, the organizational secretaries will present this list to the party president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in their report. Awami League leaders say that if they do not respect the decision of the party, it will be considered as indiscipline and strict organizational measures will be taken against them. But those who were or are chairman of Upazila Parishad, will get privilege (special discount) and will be outside the scope of this decision.

Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim told media that this decision has been taken to keep the election environment free, fair and peaceful. This is the directive of our party president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. No one will be allowed to question the election in any way. Failure to comply with this instruction will be considered as disobeying the decision of party policy and breaking party discipline. He also said that we believe that they will withdraw from the election by following the instructions of the party. However, if they disobey the instructions of the party, organizational action will be taken against them, he said.

When asked, Awami League’s organizing secretary Ahmad Hossain told media, “We are monitoring the issues comprehensively.” Our report in this regard (organizational secretaries’ report) will be presented in our team meeting on 30th April and a decision will be taken in this regard. When asked about the MP-minister’s relatives who are still in the field for the next phase of the election, he said, “We are working on them as well.”

When asked about the same, Awami League organizing secretary Abu Saeed Al Mahmud told media that the list has been made. The issue will be presented in the next executive committee meeting of Awami League. Under the wise leadership of Awami League President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the necessary decision in this regard will be taken in the Executive Parliament.

Local MP-ministers are desperate to retain their power at the upazila level. As a result, they entered the field in favor of their favorite candidate in various ways from the beginning. Many candidates are family members or close relatives. In such a context, Awami League President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave strict instructions that relatives of MP-ministers cannot be candidates. After that, from April 18, the responsible leaders started working to remove the relatives of ministers and members of parliament from the upazila elections across the country. For a week, they urged the concerned parties through various means.

The period for withdrawing candidature for the first phase of the upazila elections ended on Monday. In the first phase, 17 relatives of at least 14 parliament members of Awami League are in the field of election. Despite the instructions of the party, they have announced to contest the election by giving different arguments to the contrary.

Some of the MP family members were also elected unopposed. Among them are sons of MPs and former ministers, cousins, nephews’ wives. Now Awami League is thinking of taking strict organizational measures against them by making a list of those concerned. However, the former chairman of Upazila Parishad, who has been a candidate again, is going to get special privileges even though he is a relative of the MP-minister.

In this regard, Awami League organizing secretary Mirza Azam told media that an upazila parishad chairman was or is, he has become a candidate again, he cannot be removed from the election because he is someone’s brother or brother-in-law. That is why they will be outside the scope of this decision. They will get this privilege. He further said, however, the party has strict decisions about those who are outside it. Organizational action will be taken against those who ignore the instructions.

According to the party sources of Awami League, the list is being made keeping in mind two types of issues. First, the list of MP-ministers whose relatives are participating in the elections is being prepared. Besides, the MP-ministers who have placed their relatives or loved ones in the election field, are also being listed. However, the responsible leaders are in trouble with the preparation of this list. Because, the limits of kinship are not clearly explained. Besides, there are many who were public representatives before. There are some who are relatives of MP-ministers but have been in the ranks of the party for a long time.

This time, the first phase of four-phase voting will be held in 150 upazilas on May 8. After that, the second phase of voting will be held on May 21 and the third phase on May 29. Besides, there is a possibility that the fourth phase of voting will be held on June 5, even if it is not scheduled. Awami League’s party sources said that the party’s decision regarding ministers and members of parliament is applicable for the four phases of the upazila elections. However, despite the talk of strict organizational measures, what kind of measures will be taken against the MPs and their relatives or what kind of measures will be taken, has not been finalized yet. Responsible leaders say that party president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will take the final decision in this regard.