The Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) has decided to resolve the partys intra-party feuds as soon as possible and not to allocate its party symbol oat to any ruling party candidates to avert further conflict in the party and attract more candidates in the upcoming local government elections.
According to ALCWC sources, the ruling partys joint general secretaries and organizing secretaries responsible for eight divisions have been asked to take necessary steps to resolve the partys inner conflicts created due to the 12th national elections held on January 7 this year.
When contacted over phone, Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim on Tuesday told this correspondent that the eight divisional teams comprising the joint general secretaries and organizing secretaries have already started working on the matter.
"We have all the information about the party conflicts created during the election period and earlier. We have started working on resolving the crisis. Initially, we are trying to talk with those involved in conflicts. Some problems have already been resolved," he claimed.
Nasim also claimed, "We will call the leaders of those places, where the problems are critical, in Dhaka to discuss the matters. They will be called soon in Dhaka. Hope, the problem will be solved after the meeting in Dhaka. The leaders of the party will work together in the upcoming elections, I think."
According to the ALCWC instructions of the AL President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the joint general secretaries and organizing secretaries responsible for eight divisions will work out their plan of actions and take necessary steps as soon as possible, so that the conflicts can be resolved immediately.
The instruction was given at the first meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) held on Monday (January 22) after the January 7 national elections. AL President Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
In the meeting, the party has also decided not to allocate party symbol for the candidates of upcoming local government elections including the election of Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) and by-polls of Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) to be held on March 9 and the upazila elections to be held on April this year.
While briefing after Mondays ALCWC meeting at Ganabhaban, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, told media that the ALCWC has agreed not to allocate boat symbol to any candidate intending to contest in the election, despite having provision.
As per the four local government laws - the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, Local Government (Upazila Parishad) Act, 2009, Local Government (Municipality) Act, 2009, and Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009 - which were amended in 2011 incorporating the provision of allocating party symbols for the party nominated candidates.
The elections after the amendments were held with the party symbols. But, the ruling party has decided not allocate the party symbol in the upcoming elections as the system may fuel further conflicts among the party leaders and activists, according to the party sources.
The sources said that the decision was taken considering the previous elections of the local governments and recent 12th national elections held on January 7 this year. As the party allowed all of its leaders intending to contest the polls, the inner conflicts in the party sparked.
Several incidents of pre and post-polls violence among the supporters of the contesting candidates have taken place across the country. In the incidents, some of the party activists have lost their lives while some have survived with critical injuries.
According to party sources, the decision of not allocating party symbol will help government ensure participation of more candidates in the upcoming elections and help the party to avoid inner conflicts. The party will not support anyone in the polls. Those who have influence among the general people as well as the voters will be elected with their own charisma.
Meanwhile, questions have arisen about the AL decision. Some of the political analysts claimed that it may be the violation of the local government laws.
While talking to media on Tuesday at his at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Tajul Islam said there will be no violation of the law if political parties do not nominate candidates with their symbol in the upazila parishad elections.
"The way the law has been enacted, the elections can be held with party symbols or without party symbols," the minister said, adding, "If any party nominates someone and provides a symbol, the election will be held with the party symbol. There are other options as well. One can contest the election independently. Ive seen the law, the law is fine. There is no chance of violation of the law."
He said there is no need to amend the existing law.
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