Defying a high command decision, several hundred local leaders of the BNP are taking part in the upcoming elections to all the five city corporations.
The BNP’s central leaders have continuously been issuing warnings to the party’s leaders at the grass roots level saying that punitive action would be taken against those who take part in any election defying party decision.
BNP’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said organizational actions would be taken against those who would take part in the city polls defying party decision.
A list of those leaders who are taking part in the election is being prepared, he said.
But, all efforts of the central leaders of the BNP are not being able to stop the party's leaders and activists in the city or grass root levels from their participation in the elections.
Even from exile in London, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has also failed to control his party leaders and activists.
Alongside public communications, the BNP leaders are also carrying out election campaigning with banners, posters and festoons. They are found to be active in social media.
The elections to five city corporations—Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), Barishal City Corporation (BCC), Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) and Khulna City Corporation (KCC)—are being held in three phases.
Elections to GCC are scheduled to be held on May 25, KCC and BCC on June 12, while RCC and SCC on 21 June.
According to the schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers for the GCC polls was April 27 and May 8 was the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
Besides, the last date for submission of nomination papers in KCC and BCC elections was on Tuesday (May 16) and May 25 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
The last date for the submission of nomination papers for RCC and SCC is on May 23, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is on June 1.
According to sources, many of the BNP leaders have already submitted their nomination papers to contest the GCC, BCC and KCC while others are taking preparations for the polls in RCC and SCC.
Those BNP leaders are taking part for both the mayor and councilor posts in all the five city corporations.
They, however, are taking part in the elections as independent candidates as the BNP officially has taken its stance against the participation in any polls under the Awami League government.
According to information received from Gazipur, Barishal, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet, the local BNP leaders remain busy with election campaigning. They are roaming from door to door and keeping contacts with their own supporters, voters and well-wishers.
The BNP leaders and activists are reluctant to leave the election field to Awami League or other parties uncontested.
According to sources, leaders from the BNP and its different associate bodies in metropolitan, thana and ward levels are being candidates in the city polls.
Sources said, at least 30 leaders of BNP and its different associate bodies are taking part in the GCC polls. Of them, there is a mayoral candidate and others are candidates for 24 councilor posts.
According to sources, around 35 leaders from BNP and its different associate bodies are taking part in the BCC polls, 50 others in RCC polls, over 60 BNP leaders are taking part in SCC polls and at least 20 in KCC polls.
According to sources, alongside Awami League and BNP, leaders from Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islam, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Ganotantri Party and some other parties are also taking part in the city polls.
But, BNP and Jamaat leaders are taking in the election as independent candidates although others are taking part on party tickets.
Sources said, not only in the city polls, leaders of BNP and all of its associate bodies in the grass root levels are willing to take part in the upcoming 12th National Parliamentary elections although BNP central committee is still saying that the party would not take part in any election under Awami League government.
The BNP and some other minor parties are carrying out a movement for a caretaker government, which is not constitutional.
