Ruling party recovers in local polls

While the results of the first two phases of upazila (sub-district) elections indicated a poor showing of the ruling Awami League, it has finally fought back in the third of the six-phase polls outshining its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The local polls are largely non-political, although major political parties put up their candidates, making the contest political.

In the March 14 elections held in the 81 upazilas across Bangladesh, the ruling party candidates won 39 chairman posts and the BNP favourites 28.

Significantly, the BNP’s key ally Jamaat-e-Islami secured seven chairman posts, while the ally of Awami League, HM Ershad’s Jatiya Party, bagged none in the third phase.

In the initial two phases held in February, the BNP and Jamaat-backed candidates put up a strong performance in the 213 upazilas winning a total of 93 chairman posts, while the Awami League won in 81 and Jamaat 20.

Results of the third phase now take those numbers to 124 chairmen for Awami League, 124 for the BNP, 27 for Jamaat-e-Islami, 2 for Jatiya Party and others 16.

The third phase was marked by sporadic violence and irregularities.