Upazilla election: Awami League's 'No' to symbol, MPs want to support candidate



Ruhul Amin, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Upazilla election: Awami League's 'No' to symbol, MPs want to support candidate

Upazilla election: Awami League's 'No' to symbol, MPs want to support candidate

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On the occasion of the upcoming upazila elections, the two-phase election schedule has already been announced. Awami League has announced not to give party symbols in this election to be held next month. However, MPs including local activists are informing the center about their support for specific candidates even if they do not give symbols.

They put this proposal in the meeting of central leaders with leaders and activists of Rangpur division and Chattogram division at the central office of Gulistan last Saturday and Sunday.

The upcoming sixth upazila parishad election will be held in four phases. The Election Commission has already announced the schedule for a total of 313 upazilas in two phases for this election of 495 upazila parishads. According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, in the first phase, the election of 152 upazilas will be held on May 8. After that, the election in 161 upazilas of the second phase will be held on May 21. The third and fourth phase elections will be held on May 29 and June 5.

Awami League has started discussions with grassroot leaders and activists in view of the elections. Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the party, sat with the leaders and activists of Rangpur and Chattogram divisions last Saturday and Sunday as part of the exchange of views with grassroot leaders and activists. There, he said that everyone should vote for their favorite candidates in an open environment, but the leaders and activists present expressed fear of increasing conflict and demanded that a candidate should be supported from the party even if they did not give symbols.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said to the leaders and activists in an exchange meeting with the leaders and activists of Rangpur division on Saturday (March 30), I am an MP, I will influence the election, I will obstruct the entire process to win him if there is one of me, this cannot happen. The purpose for which this election is opened cannot be disturbed under any circumstances.

At the beginning of the meeting, contrary to the attitude of the general secretary of the party, the top leaders of the party, the district and upazila members proposed that even if the party symbol is not given in the upazila parishad election, one should be given party support. It is known from reliable sources that the top leadership of grassroot held this opinion in the meeting of Chattogram division held on Sunday the next day. In the meetings, grassroot leaders expressed fear that if a single candidate is not given, then divisions in the grassroot will increase. Awami League's votes will be divided, as a result, Jamaat and other parties can take advantage.

Chattogram Awami League leader Abdus Salam commented that 'everyone will worry about the upazila elections' and said that it is being said that MP-ministers or district Awami League leaders will not worry about the upazila elections. The headache is not visible, cannot be seen. Everyone will be worried. Let it be. Earlier also upazila elections were held without party symbols, but there the party supported one. Then there was organizational discipline. Now if five-seven people stand for the post of chairman in an upazila, the MP will support one. District Awami League leaders will support separately. This will further damage the organization.

Commenting that the upazila parishad elections will be free and fair, Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim told Barta24.com that we will not hold elections with party symbols, that is our decision. There will be participatory elections; we want it, people want it. As a people's party, Awami League has withdrawn its symbol to meet the expectations of the people. Popular that he will get elected. We want popularization to be verified, participatory elections, beautiful elections.

Mentioning that we will congratulate those who will be elected, he further said that if Awami League leaders and activists want to vote for a good person, if they agree to vote, then there is no obstacle here. But we don't want to allow nepotism to influence me to make my brother-son or the MP to make his son, brother-in-law, relative, sister-in-law. If anyone wants to do anything to create disunity within the party, we will not allow it.

In response to the question whether the elections without symbols will cause division within the Awami League, the joint general secretary of the Awami League told Barta24.com that it will not cause division. He who is popular will be elected by popular vote. Those who are running for influence in this upazila election, if anyone wants to establish his own occupation by making own man (chairman) he will fail. The success of the election will be established only through his failure.

Three doctors are absent for a long time causing sufferings to the patients



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Barta24.com

Pic: Barta24.com

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The government has taken various initiatives to ensure the presence of doctors and officials in government hospitals. However, a different picture is seen in Barishal's 50- bed Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex. Three doctors of the hospital have been absent for a long time. As a result, patients have to suffer due to lack of proper healthcare.

Allegedly, medical services at the hospital have come to a standstill due to lack of strict supervision. Therefore, many patients are forced to seek treatment in private hospitals.

According to hospital sources, Dr. Abu Bakar Siddique joined Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex as Medical Officer on July 1, 2011. He has been absent since January 4, 2012 after staying at the hospital for just five months. Similarly, Dr. Soma Halder joined the health complex on October 8, 2014. She has also been absent since November 5, 2015, after serving for one year.

Sources also said that Dr. Shahana Rahman joined the hospital on November 25, 2023. She has not been coming to the hospital for the past 8 months.

Although the three mentioned doctors are absent for a long time, no appointments are being made in their place. As a result, patient services are constantly disrupted. Besides, the hospital authorities are also in trouble.

A responsible source of the hospital, on condition of anonymity, said that this alarming situation has arisen due to the non-punishment of those who are negligent in fulfilling their duties. Also there is a lack of strong supervision.

Upazila Health Officer Dr. Bakhtiar Al Mamun said that Dr. Abu Bakr Siddiq and Dr. Soma Halder have been given letters to join the workplace several times. But they are still not back to work. A departmental case is ongoing against them. In addition, Dr. Shahana Rahman has been given several letters to join the work. The Civil Surgeon's office has also been informed about the matter.

He also said that the information of doctors is sent to higher authorities and ministries every month. As such, the ministry is aware of the matter. According to the latest information, one doctor may be out of a job. Of the remaining two, one is abroad, the other I don't know where. Regarding the appointment of doctors, he said, appointment is not possible until the posts are vacant. As a result, it will take time to find a new doctor.

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Three coordinators in DB for interrogation



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Collected

Pic: Collected

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Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has taken three people, including Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, into custody from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital. The other two coordinators are Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumdar.

A DB source confirmed this information on Friday (July 26) night.

DB said three coordinators have been brought to the DB office for security and interrogation purposes.

All three of them are students of Dhaka University.

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What the Home Minister said about lifting of the curfew



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Collected

Pic: Collected

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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, everyone has to wait a little with the curfew till public life becomes normal. We are looking at whether the curfew can be relaxed.

He said these things while talking to reporters about the ongoing situation on Friday (July 26) night.

The Home Minister said, we are seeing if the curfew can be relaxed. Police BGB, Army are working. We have to wait a little until public life becomes normal. People should be patient. He also said that a decision may be made subject to discussion on Saturday (July 27).

At that time, he mentioned that there were brutal killings in the name of the movement, and he said, who will take responsibility for this loss of the country? BNP said they are not involved in violence. So who did it? It is a question of the people.

Regarding the arrest of the quota activists, the Home Minister said that the quota agitator leaders themselves are suffering from insecurity. For their safety, law enforcement has been called. Further action will be taken after the inquiry.

Incidentally, the government clamped a curfew from 12 midnight on July 19 to keep the situation normal around the quota reform movement. The army was also deployed.

The curfew was later relaxed for a specified period but has not yet been lifted completely.

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Government to provide treatment & income to all injured: Prime Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Photo: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government will provide treatment and income to all those injured in the recent violence, regardless of party affiliation.

She said this while visiting the injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday (July 26). Meanwhile, she inquired about the physical condition of the injured.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government will do whatever is necessary for the treatment of those injured in the violence. The government will take responsibility for the treatment of the injured, whichever party they belong to.

She also said, even after accepting all the demands on the quota, why is the movement not ending? Everyone at home and abroad should be vocal against the violence and brutality of BNP-Jamaat.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister visited several wards of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and inquired about the injured. She talked to doctors and nurses. She ordered to give all kinds of treatment to the injured.

Earlier in the morning, the head of government visited the Bangladesh Television (BTV) building damaged by vandals' attack and fire at Rampura in the capital.

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