Meanwhile we are enjoying a wave of growth. Everyone’s hands are full of money. They are doing business in every possible way. That is why those who claim that the January 7 election was a genuine election say that the fact that almost 70 per cent of our members of Parliament are businessmen is a reflection of our flourishing capitalism. America certainly has a lot to learn from us. Bill Gates, Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos can follow the footsteps of our businessmen-MPs, learn from them and now contest American elections. However, he is unlikely to get the people’s vote. Obviously our love for the business community is greater than that of the Americans.
2.
Whatever has happened has happened. It is time to think about the days ahead. More election dates have also been announced. For about three months, from March 9 to April-May, elections will be held for two municipal corporations, about 490 upazilas, several paurashavas and various local government elections. The Municipal Corporation Mayor elections for Mymensingh and Cumilla are certainly the major ones. Then in phases, before the holy Ramzan and two months after Eid, elections for about five hundred upazila councils will be held.
In the last week of January, the Awami League decided that the ‘Boat’ election symbol could not be allotted for the Upazila Parishad elections. This is not a permanent decision and may be reversed so that the ‘boat’ symbol can be used again. Only time will tell. The question is whether anyone will contest elections with the symbol of paddy heap? That is, whether the holder of this symbol will allow it to be used in local government elections or not.
There are pros and cons to any situation or decision. We can discuss and debate indefinitely. Without stretching the debate further, I want to reach a clear conclusion. If the opposition, i.e. basically BNP, boycotts the local government elections, the party will be weakened at the grassroots level. Local government elections will again give strength to local level leaders and workers. They will contest elections, hold meetings and rallies, contest elections against their opponents, and there will be discussions on air.