Sixth Upazila Parishad election is going on in the country. The first phase of this four-phase election was held on May 8. The second phase of the election is on Tuesday (May 21). In this election, the ruling party, Awami League, has abandoned its symbol boat to attract voters. Ban on the relatives of the minister-MP, if the order is not obeyed, the punishment is threatened! However, the relatives of the minister-MP did not withdraw from the election despite everything.
While looking for the reasons for ignoring the strict instructions of the party chief and the centre, it is known that the leaders are not punished openly, and the punishment is given less punishment and it is pardoned again.
Many have started to believe that no matter the direction given from the Centre; if they win the election then they will not face any punishment. Again, the leaders who have popularity and public support think that even if they are punished, it will not last long. Even if any minimum punishment is given, the party will forgive him and give him a chance again.
Meanwhile, despite talking about punishment publicly, not seeing its implementation is encouraging people to disobey the party's instructions.
Jahangir Alam, former mayor of Gazipur City Corporation, can be the best example of punishing and forgiving again and again. On November 19, 2021, he was expelled from the party for violating party discipline for the first time by making controversial comments about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the liberation war. After almost a year on December 17, 2022, the party revoked Jahangir Alam's expulsion order and pardoned him.
However, the influential leader of Gazipur did not stop working against party discipline. Azmat Ullah Khan, a senior leader of Gazipur Awami League, was the candidate for boat in the Gazipur City Corporation election held in May last year. He went against the boat in the election, disobeying the instructions of the Awami League and submitted the candidature of himself and his mother Zayda Khatun. Due to this, Jahangir Alam was again expelled from the party. However, he did not last long after the expulsion. Rather, the boycott was withdrawn after only five months to use Jahangir Alam's large workforce in the 12th national election.
For the sake of maintaining party order and maintaining the ideological position, although there is a provision to take punitive measures in the constitution, the political parties of the country are always seen to follow a lax policy in observing them. Even if action is taken, it is quickly withdrawn. Among them, four district and upazila chairman, former MP, important leaders of the party and many others.
Although the ruling party Awami League says that those who break party discipline are never exempted. Sometimes, for tactical reasons, the violators of the party discipline have to be severely punished, even if they are not punished publicly.
According to the party, the party chief took timely action against those who disobeyed the party instructions. Although no punishment is seen to be given publicly, in many cases hidden punishment is given which is greater than public punishment. They are excluded from party posts. Nomination is not given. He has to be dropped from the cabinet.
In the afternoon of May 17, at the office of Dhaka District Awami League in Tejgaon of the capital, Obaidul Quader, the party's general secretary, said that discipline must be followed. Those who break the discipline must be punished. Sheikh Hasina's way of punishing is a little different. Those who understood, received, understood correctly. And I am reminding those who did not get it.
He said, 'We should not do any wrongdoing outside of her (party president Sheikh Hasina)'s instructions. Those who commit evil deeds are purified. Think it's quiet? Why is no one being punished? You will get! He will be punished. In the last election, 75 MPs did not get nomination. This is also punishment. So it doesn't end here. There is plenty of time to punish. Time will be calculated. No one will be spared.'
The responsible leaders of Awami League say that since public punishment is seen, its response is also direct. In that case, the leaders and workers are discouraged by breaking the party discipline. As Awami League has been in power for a long time, various beneficiary groups have been created. As a result, it is not always possible to punish immediately. Again, many times the need of the party has to be quickly pardoned. The party chief does not spare anyone even if he is not publicly punished. He took action on time.
These leaders, who did not want to be named, said that the punishment is not public, the response does not reach the grassroots. The results of which we can see in the upazila parishad elections. Despite repeated strict instructions from the party, it was not followed properly by the grassroots. Relatives of MP-ministers did not withdraw from the election. But if you want to do politics, you have to accept all the facts. We are trying to that end. As much as possible party discipline can be kept intact.
Awami League organizing Secretary Afzal Hossain told Barta24.com in response to the question whether the candidates are reluctant to obey the Center's instructions due to the lack of public punishment. We are working towards that goal. The Election Commission can make their own decisions. So we think it won't be a problem.