The upcoming Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) elections scheduled for May 25th, have generated a lot of interest among the residents of the city. A total of twelve candidates, including the dismissed former mayor Jahangir Alam, have submitted their nomination papers to contest for the mayoral post. The ruling Awami League has fielded Azmat Ullah Khan as their mayoral candidate, while other political parties, including Jatiya Party, National People’s Front, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Zaker Party, have also submitted their candidates. The outcome of the Gazipur city polls could have a significant impact on the upcoming national elections, and will be an important indicator of the political climate in the region. The ruling party’s performance in Gazipur could indicate its popularity among voters, and influence its strategy in the approaching national polls.
Multiple candidates in the fray
The Gazipur City Corporation has 57 wards with a total of 11,843,363 registered voters. Along with the mayoral post, 290 nominations have been submitted for the post of general councillors, and 82 for the post of reserved women councillors. The office of the returning officer has informed that 13 candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers, leaving 12 candidates in the fray for the mayoral post.
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The competition for the Gazipur City Corporation mayor post is intense as a total of twelve candidates are in the race. Among them, dismissed former mayor Jahangir Alam has submitted his nomination paper to contest for the mayoral post independently. The ruling party, Awami League, has nominated Azmat Ullah Khan as their mayoral candidate. The other political parties have also put forward their candidates, including the Jatiya Party’s candidate Md Jahangir Alam, National People’s Front’s candidate Akhtaruzzaman, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s candidate Maulana Sheikh Md Shahidullah, and Zaker Party’s candidate Maulana Zaker Hossain. The contest for the reserved women councillor post is also quite competitive as 82 candidates have submitted their nomination papers. The voters have a wide range of choices, and it remains to be seen which candidate can secure the support of the majority of the voters.
Jahangir Alam’s independent candidacy!
Former mayor Jahangir Alam submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate after failing to get the nomination from the ruling Awami League. His mother, Zaida Khatun, also submitted her nomination paper for the same post. However, Jahangir Alam’s nomination paper was later rejected due to loan default. Zaida Khatun’s nomination, on the other hand, was declared valid after verification. Jahangir Alam’s independent candidacy has attracted a lot of attention, and it remains to be seen if he can secure a significant number of votes.
Jahangir Alam’s independent candidacy has created a stir in the Gazipur city polls. However, it is commendable that the ruling Awami League has maintained its internal democracy and decision-making process by not nominating Jahangir Alam. Despite his rejection, Jahangir Alam has decided to participate in the election through an independent candidacy, which is a legitimate right. It is also noteworthy that the election commission has ensured a fair and transparent nomination process by verifying the eligibility of candidates and rejecting Jahangir Alam’s nomination paper due to loan default. The rejection of Jahangir Alam’s nomination by the EC shows that no one is above the law, and the election process is being conducted according to rules and regulations. After Jahangir Alam’s nomination paper was rejected due to loan default, his mother, Zahida Khatun, submitted her nomination paper for the same post of Gazipur City Corporation mayor. Her nomination was declared valid after verification. It is worth noting that Zahida Khatun has previously served as a councillor of Gazipur City Corporation and has been actively involved in local politics.
EC ensures fair nomination process
The election commission (EC) has served a show cause notice to Awami League’s mayoral candidate Azmat Ullah on an allegation that he violated the electoral code of conduct during the submission of his nomination paper. Azmat Ullah did not follow the direction of not keeping more than five people with him while submitting the nomination form or stage any show down. He had more than ten people with him while submitting his nomination paper and party activists were staging a show of strength on the street. The EC has also requested the cabinet division and Awami League general secretary to take measures to ensure that ministers, state ministers, and lawmakers adhere to the electoral code of conduct ahead of elections to the five city corporations.
Till now, the EC has played a commendable role by maintaining neutrality and showing no favouritism towards any political party. They have taken prompt actions against any alleged violation of the electoral code of conduct, regardless of the candidate’s affiliation with a political party. The show cause notice to Azmat Ullah shows that the EC is committed to ensuring that the election is conducted fairly and transparently, without any violation of the rules. The request to the cabinet division and Awami League general secretary to ensure adherence to the electoral code of conduct by ministers, state ministers, and lawmakers highlights the EC’s efforts to keep the election free from any undue influence or pressure. With the EC’s unbiased approach, the people of Gazipur can have confidence in the election’s integrity and that their voices will be heard through a fair electoral process.
The upcoming Gazipur City Corporation elections are generating a lot of interest among the residents of the city and also around the country. With 12 candidates in the fray, including a former mayor running as an independent candidate, the electoral battle is expected to be keenly contested. While the ruling Awami League is hoping to retain the mayor’s post, other political parties are also making a strong bid for it. The voters will have to choose their next mayor through electronic voting machines (EVMs) on May 25th, and the results will be closely watched by political analysts and observers. The outcome of the Gazipur City Corporation elections could have a significant impact on the upcoming national polls scheduled for 2024. It will be viewed as a test case for all political parties, and the election results could also indicate the level of public support for different political ideologies and the mood of the electorate ahead of the national elections.
