Kalapara Upazila Parishad election: Several candidates in fray

Kalapara upazila chairman candidates.

Patuakhali: Prospective candidates who want to participate in Upazila Parishad elections have started knocking on the doors of voters in Kalapara of Patuakhali. Some are posting on social media Face book to announce their candidacy. On behalf of someone, his workers and supporters are asking for prayers by posting pictures on Face book. Besides, these candidates who want to participate in the Upazila Parishad elections are going to the municipality town and rural bazaars, holding hands with the voters and asking for prayers. Voters have also started to get used to it. 

Since the ruling party Awami League does not have the party symbol and support in the local government council elections, several candidates from the Awami League for the post of chairman, vice chairman and female vice chairman have started lobbying to get party support in the upcoming upazila council elections. Many candidates who want to participate in the elections are posting pictures of meeting with the leaders of Awami League district and central heavyweights on Face book. Among them are the discussed and controversial ones. In this, the race of potential candidates is increasing in the district and central. Even before the announcement of the election schedule, the grass root leaders and activists have started to engage in the public relations of the candidates. In the recently concluded 12th National Assembly election, the election was fiercely contested as there was no restriction on campaigning for the independent candidate against the party candidate. In the guise of Upazila Parishad elections also being held in the same manner, there is no restriction on the party leaders and workers to join the election campaign for their preferred candidate. As a result, the upazila parishad elections are also indicated to be contested in the speech of the central leaders of the Awami League. 

However, BNP is not in the field in the Upazila Parishad elections. BNP also has no response in Kalapara. There is no mention of Jasad (INU), Congress Party, Trinamool BNP and any other political party participating in the 12th National Assembly elections. 

According to several voters of the grass root area of the upazila, the upazila Awami League secretary and former upazila chairman Bir Muktijodha Abdul Motaleb Talukdar, the district Krishak League leader and former Tiakhali UP chairman Syed Aktaruzzaman Kokka, Juboleague Central Committee Organizing Secretary Advocate Shamim Al Saiful Sohag, Upazila Awami League Tran and Social Welfare Secretary Shahina Pariveen Seema are seeking prayers for the election of the chairman post among the candidates who want to participate in the upazila council elections. Upazila Awami League organizing secretary and current vice chairman Shafikul Alam Babul, office secretary Md. Yusuf Ali, Sramik League president Hira Howladar Swapan, former secretary of Upazila Chhatra League Faizur Rahman Ashiq Talukder, Awami League leader Md. Nizam Uddin is are the list of potential candidates for the post of vice chairman. Upazila Awami League women's affairs secretary Umm Tamima Bithi, forest and environment affairs secretary Rozina Akhtar, women's Awami League leader Salma Begum are in the list of candidates who want to be elected for the post of female vice chairman. 

According to Election Commission sources, Kalapara Upazila Parishad election was held on March 31, 2019. Later, the 1st meeting of Upazila Parishad was held on May 19. There is a possibility of announcing the election schedule of this upazila in March 2024. Election may be held in Kalapara in the last week of April. The number of votes of 12 unions and two municipalities of the upazila is 2 lakh 1 thousand 195 people. Among them, there are 1 lakh 2 thousand 43 male voters, 99 thousand 149 female voters and 3 third gender voters. - Gofran Biswas Palash