Union Parishad Polls
Contestants want no political influence
Speakers at a discussion here yesterday said the upcoming union parishad elections should be free of political influence.
The elections, if hampered by vested groups or influenced by political parties, will not bring general people any good, they said.
People should vote for the right candidates and keep vigil till the results come out, they told the discussion held at Mymensingh Press Club.
Some 40 union parishad poll candidates, both for chairman and member posts, from Mymensingh, Tangail, Sherpur, Netrokona, and Kishoreganj took part in it.
Contestants and incumbent and former chairmen and members shared their views and problems at the pre-election dialogue organised by Sushashaner Jonnyo Nagorik (Sujon).
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of Dhamiha Union Parishad in Tarail of Kishoreganj and an aspirant, said local lawmakers try to influence the choice of the candidates.
This practice, he said, is not a good sign for union parishad elections. Parliamentarians actually want influential candidates to benefit their respective party, he added.
Bhuiyan urged journalists and civil society members to come forward to end such bad political practices.
Mohammad Musa Sarker, a chairman aspirant from Akua union in Mymensingh sadar, who was elected twice, said, "We must develop a democratic attitude to receive the voters' verdict whether it favours me or not."
Anwara Khatun, a contestant for reserved seats for women from Char Nilaxia union in sadar upazila, raised her voice against money allocation system to union parishads members.
She said a female member covers an area covered by three male members, but they do not get allocation three times higher in proportion to the area.
Sujon secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder presented the keynote paper at yesterday's discussion.
Advocate AHM Khalequzzaman, Emdadul Haque Millat, Sheikh Bahar Majumder, sadar upazila chairman Fayzur Rahman Fakir, and Mohila Parishad president Ferdous Ara Mahmuda Helen, among others, spoke on the occasion.
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