Ashraf hints at amending local government laws

Awami League (AL) general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam dropped on Monday a broad hint at amending the local government laws to remove barriers to political parties to directly join city corporation, upazila, municipality and union parishad elections, reports UNB.
"Why can't political parties participate in local government polls? Why there should be a hide-and-seek game. In England, all types of polls are held with the participation of political parties. But why does my party can't take part in such polls in our country? What type of provision it is actually," he said.
The AL spokesperson made the remarks while addressing the council of party's Mirpur thana unit at Golartek Eidgah Maidan.
Referring to media's presentation of upazila polls results, Ashraf said, "The media are saying Awami League won this number of upazilas while BNP that number of upazilas. But how we came to know that who belongs to Awami League and who does to BNP, as no one is contesting the polls with party symbols."
Mentioning that no democratic country in the world holds local government polls apolitically, he said those who want to hold the local government elections nonpolitically they actually do not want democracy.
"Those who want to keep local government bodies away from politics they don't believe in democratic rule," he added.
Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, said the Prime Minister has directed him to scrutinise the existing laws related to local government. "Hope, I'll be able to place a draft law soon in this connection."
AL Dhaka city unit acting president MA Aziz, general secretary Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, AL organizing secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, local MP Aslamul Haq, among others, spoke at the programme held with Mirpur unit AL acting president Aga Khan in the chair.