Many of BNP leaders are participating in UP polls: Quader

Awami League General Secretary and also Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that many BNP leaders are ready to participate in the upcoming Upazila Parishad elections defying party decision.

He said: " Although BNP openly opposed the upazila elections, according to our knowledge, many of them are participating in the elections at the local level."

He said this at a press conference at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi on Tuesday (April 16).

Earlier in the day, BNP decided to boycott the upcoming upazila elections through a press release.

Replying to a query as to how many Awami League candidates are participating in this election, he said: "We did not feel the urge to calculate how many candidates we have. We gave everyone a chance."

Regarding the first phase of the upazila elections, the minister said that there will be no party symbol of Awami League in the first phase of elections on May 8. The Prime Minister has instructed the ministers-MPs not to spread their influence. "No one will interfere in any way so that the election is conducted peacefully and fairly. The administration will not interfere in any way. The Election Commission has arranged for smooth voting."

According to the plan of the Election Commission, the polling of the Upazila Parishad elections in 152 upazilas of the country will be held on May 8 in the first phase. After that, the second phase of polling will be held on May 23, the third phase of polling on May 29 and the fourth phase of polling will be held on June 5. General elections will be held for the posts of chairman, general vice chairman and reserved vice chairman in these upazilas.