The ruling Awami League seems to have taken a U-turn regarding action against the kin of its lawmakers and ministers of the government for keeping their kin in the upazila Parishad polls defying party directives.
Leaders of the grassroots have expressed mixed reaction as the party has not taken any stance on those MPs and ministers who have kept their offspring and kin in the Upazila Parishad polls.
Even the Awami League Central Working Committee, the highest policy making body of the party, refrained from running a discussion on the much-talked about issue.
“It is hard to say whether the party has taken a U-turn on the kin of the ministers and lawmakers, or will take organisational action later,” said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity.
The ruling camp on April 18 directed the offspring and kin of the ministers and party lawmakers to stay off the Upazila Parishad polls to be held in four phases.
It has also issued a note of warning about organisational actions if any one of them participates in the polls, or any minister or lawmaker extends support to them defying the directives of the top brass of the party.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader also repeatedly said that action would be taken against those who contest the UZ polls defying the directives of the top brass.
Responding to a question at a briefing at the Ganabhaban, AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday gave a hint while giving a definition on the kin of ministers and lawmakers.
Family means---husband, wife and children while rest are not the members of a family, she said.
“Our target is to hold an uninfluenced election so that people can exercise their right of franchise,” she said. In that consideration, the kin of
ministers and lawmakers, including uncle, cousin and brother-in-law will be able to contest the race and remain out of any organisational action.
After the meeting of the ALCWC, Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said that they would take action timely against those who participated in the UZ polls defying the party directives.
He said that the ALCWC meeting did not run any discussion on the UZ polls.
When asked whether the aspirants, loyal to AL, would be brought to book for contesting the polls breaching the party discipline, he said, “We are observing the situation. I repeatedly told you that action will be taken timely.”
