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There will be no party symbols in local government elections, but the BNP will have locally supported candidates, said State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam.
He said the government would provide all necessary support to the Election Commission to ensure free, fair and impartial local government elections.
Although candidates will not contest under party symbols, voters may locally know which political ideology or party a candidate is associated with. This, however, would not affect the Election Commission’s neutrality, he said.
The state minister made the remarks while answering questions from journalists after a courtesy meeting between Local Government Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan and British High Commissioner Sarah Cook at the Secretariat on Thursday.
Asked about the BNP’s position on local government elections, Mir Shahe Alam said the party’s highest policymaking level had instructed its grassroots leaders to make maximum efforts to field a single candidate in each union.
However, such candidates would not be formally nominated under the BNP’s party symbol. Rather, they could contest as BNP-supported candidates, he said.
“It is true that the elections will not be held under party symbols. At the same time, the reality is that voters in any area will know which political party a particular chairman candidate is associated with,” he said.
Asked whether the BNP would enjoy any special advantage or position in the elections, the state minister said the government’s role would be to assist the Election Commission in holding free, fair and impartial polls.
Any legally qualified candidate would be allowed to contest, he said, adding that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure an environment where candidates could campaign safely and voters could cast their ballots without hindrance.
He said the Election Commission would receive necessary support from the local administration to the central administration to ensure a level playing field.
The state minister said the incumbent government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had given clear instructions to ensure free, fair and impartial local government elections.
“In line with those instructions, the administration will work in coordination with the Election Commission,” he said.
“The government’s message is very clear. Since these are not party-based elections, all legally qualified candidates will be allowed to contest. The state’s responsibility will be to ensure equal opportunities for everyone,” Mir Shahe Alam said.