Councillor Race: Tainted figures, rebels fare well

At least 17 controversial ward councillor candidates, all backed by the Awami League, emerged victorious in Saturday’s Dhaka city polls. 

They have drawn a lot of criticism in recent times for their alleged involvement in various illegal activities, including land grabbing, extortion and use of muscle power to establish supremacy in their areas.

The ruling party lent its support to them though it had decided not to back 19 incumbent councillors in Dhaka North City Corporation and 23 incumbent councillors in Dhaka South City Corporation for their alleged links to illegal activities.

The party picked a number of new faces in both the city corporations. But in the DNCC, only five of the 19 new ones won the polls, according to party insiders.

The picture, however, was different in the DSCC where most of the new faces emerged victorious.

Party insiders said the new ones in the DNCC performed poorly as many of the party activists did not wholeheartedly take part in their polls campaigns.

According to analysts, the results indicate that support from political parties was not the biggest factor for the councillors in winning the polls. Rather, those who have strong base and influence in their localities secured victory in Saturday’s polls.

Talking to The Daily Star, Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said, “Saturday’s elections were ruling party-controlled polls. People’s wish was not reflected in it. The Election Commission has not taken any meaningful steps to keep the election free from interference...”

“These controversial persons, who won the elections, were the key figures in controlling the polls in their localities.”

“They are wealthy and influential in their areas. This is unfortunate that they won the polls,” added Badiul.

AL-backed candidates won 98 of the 129 general ward councillor posts in the two city corporations. AL rebel candidates won in 19 wards.

Besides, nine BNP-supported candidates, and one each from the Jatiya Party, the Bangladesh Jatiya Party and the Islami Andolan won the elections, say sources in the parties. No BNP rebel candidate succeeded in any ward.

Of the 43 councillor seats reserved for women in the two city corporations, 31 were won by AL-backed candidates, seven by BNP-supported contenders and five by independent candidates. No AL or BNP rebel candidates won in the reserved seats.

In the DNCC, AL-backed councillor candidates won in 41 wards and AL rebels in 10 wards. BNP-supported candidates won in two wards. Only one JP-backed councillor contender emerged victorious.

In the south, AL-supported candidates won in 57 wards and AL rebels in nine wards. BNP-backed contestants secured victory in two wards while one candidate backed by the Bangladesh Jatiya Party and one by the Islami Andolan succeeded in the polls.

CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES

In the DNCC, nine controversial councillor candidates, backed by the AL, secured victory in the city polls.

They are Jamal Mustafa from ward-4, Abdur Rouf Nannu from ward-5, Tofazzal Hossain from ward-7, Abu Taher from ward-10, Zakir Hossain from ward-18, Faridur Rahman Iran from ward-27, Mohammad Harun-ur-Rashid from ward-13, Forkan Hossain from ward-28 and Abul Hashem Hasu from ward-30.

In the South, eight controversial AL-backed councillor candidates won the polls.

They are Anisur Rahman from ward-2, Farid Uddin Ahmed Ratan from ward-20, Hasibur Rahman Manik from ward-26, Abu Ahmed Mannafi from ward-38, Kazi Habibur Rahman Habu from ward-51, Atiqur Rahman from ward-70, Mahmudul Hasan Polin from ward-68 and Mohammad Hossain from Ward-56.

AL REBELS

The AL rebel candidates who won the polls in the DNCC include Quazi Zahirul from ward-3, Taijul Islam Chowdhury from ward-6, Tofazzal Hossain from ward-7, Humayun Rashid Jony from ward-14, Salimullah Salu from ward-29, Abul Hasem from ward-30, Abdul Matin from ward-41, Ayub Ansari from ward-42, and Anisur Rahman from ward-49.

In the DSCC, the successful AL rebel candidates include Sultan Mia from ward-8, Mamunur Rashid from ward-12, Kamal Uddin Kabul from ward-28, Irfan Selim from ward-30, Sahana Akhter from ward-47, Ruhul Amin from ward-52, and Salahuddin Ahmed from ward-69.