AL, BNP in Race: Obstacles they've to overcome

Settling the discord over seat-sharing with alliance partners and keeping leaders and activists united to work for the party nominees are the major challenges the ruing Awami League is faced with ahead of the parliamentary polls.

Things are trickier for the BNP. Apart from appeasing the combine partners with seats, staying in the race defying the odds would be its main challenge.

Despite a series of meetings with allies, the AL could not resolve the seat-sharing issue. The party had distributed nomination letters among 281 leaders for 264 constituencies.

But what put it in more trouble is the dissidents. The high command on several occasions warned the party men of expulsion for life if anyone files nominations going against its decision.

But a number of aspirants have apparently ignored the warning.

The Election Commission data shows at least 498 aspirants submitted nomination papers as independent candidates.

According to The Daily Star's tally, at least 70 AL leaders filed nomination papers as independent candidates from 43 constituencies in 21 out of 64 districts. The actual number could be higher.

On the other hand, the BNP opted for fielding multiple candidates for almost every seat. Some 696 BNP leaders filed nominations for 295 constituencies on the party ticket.

Many of the BNP leaders are still uncertain whether the party will finally pick them as nominees.

A number of AL grassroots leaders expressed hope that they would be able to resolve all the disputes before the polls and work together to ensure the party's victory.

Rezaur Rahim Lal, vice president of Pabna district AL, admits that there are some internal conflicts since it's a big political party.

"We are trying to end all the conflicts ahead of the polls. We are hopeful that all the party men will be united for the nominees.”

Asaduzzaman, general secretary of Rajshahi district AL, said the party has no division but there are some differences among leaders over securing nominations. That has to be solved and those who got the nominations should play a big role in fixing it.

"Those who will be denied the ticket should also come up to strengthen the party and ensure its win. The upazila committees have already begun working to that end and they will form committees to oversee the electioneering."

On the other hand, BNP leaders say the party men are united despite troubles due to "police harassment". The party's victory will be ensured if leaders and activists can campaign properly.

Golam Mostafa Mamun, organising secretary of Rajshahi BNP, said they have doubt whether the candidates and their supporters would be able to campaign freely.

"There are threats. But our leaders are united and they will work for the party candidates. If we can do so and people can cast their votes, victory is ours," he said.

Habibur Rahman, secretary of Pabna district BNP, said filing of "false" cases is a huge obstacle for grassroots activists to campaign in their areas. "We are trying to secure bail for our party men so that they can join the campaigns."

Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, a professor of government and politics at Jahangirnagar University, said expectations of political leaders in Bangladesh always remain very high. So everyone wants the nomination.

There is a tendency that if a leader is denied party ticket, he or she works against or refrains from working for the nominee, he said.

"Therefore, the main challenge for the Awami League would be to keep the grassroots united and ensure their presence during the campaigns since many of its leaders filed nomination papers as rebel candidates."

For the BNP, how well it will work on the ground is the main challenge as the party leaders and activists are not actually there yet, he added. 

Nizamuddin Ahmed, a professor of public administration at Chittagong University, said the AL is in a better position as its president can remain directly involved in election-related affairs.

But with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia now in jail, how well the party high-ups deal with the grassroots will be a major thing to look at, he added.