There’s one month left before the announcement of election schedule for 12^th national parliament elections. However, the preparation regarding it is going on among the leaders and activists of Awami League (AL) in the grassroots level. The leaders of the ruling party, its activists, and aspiring candidates are highlighting the development activities of the government to the people in their own constituencies. They’re going to different crowded places and door to door and distributing leaflets among the people describing the success of the government. In addition, extended meetings are being held where the leaders and activists are exchanging their views regarding upcoming national elections. The work of mass communication and motivating party-people are also going on.

According to the sources, the schedule of the 12th National Parliament election may be announced next month. The vote will be held in January 2024.  The central leaders of Awami League, MP-ministers, local leaders and activists have been active keeping in mind the elections ahead. Candidates aspiring for getting boat sign are also conducting mass communication with the MP-ministers. The leaders are trying in various ways to secure the party ticket for joining elections. Interested candidates have covered the entire area with banners, festoons. In addition to conducting regular mass communication, they are announcing their interest by advertising in local newspapers. It is known that Awami League President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given instructions to the party leaders and workers to highlight the development activities of the government.

In this context, AL organizing secretary Mirza Azam told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “What was the situation before Awami League came to power? President Sheikh Hasina has ordered to present to the people what developments Awami League has brought in their three consecutive terms. The responsible leaders and MPs are working under the instructions of the party chief. At the same time, leaders of various levels of the party, potential candidates are active in the field. They’re distributing leaflets highlighting the development projects of the government, holding workshops, arranging courtyard meetings, women’s gatherings etc. The party leaders and workers will win the hearts of the common people and put Awami League in power again in the future.”

The opposition party BNP does not want to vote under the current government. That's why they are doing continuous programs. Awami League is holding a peace and development rally against BNP's road march, protest rally, procession. They have continued this peace and development rally all over the country including Dhaka. Noakhali-4 Constituency MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury is regularly conducting public relations activities, arranging meetings, road meetings in the district headquarters and Subarnachar of the constituency. Besides highlighting the development activities of the government, he is also highlighting the situation of the country when BNP-Jamaat were in power.

Similarly, General Secretary of Feni District Awami League and MP of Feni-2 Constituency Nizam Uddin Hazari is holding meetings and road gatherings in his own area and almost regularly highlighting the development activities done in AL regime. In this context, he told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “In addition to highlighting the development activities of the government in 12 unions and one municipality of the constituency, I am also highlighting the local developments. Election process has started in the constituencies. We want a competitive election with the participation of BNP.”

 Nizam Uddin Hazari said, "Because of the development the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has done in three consecutive terms, the people of Feni, regarded as the area of BNP leader Khaleda Zia, also want to elect Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina as the prime minister again for her threndous 'development'.”

 MP Jaglul Haider of Satkhira-4 Constituency stays in the area regularly except during the Parliament session. He regularly conducts public relations in the area. He is distributing leaflets highlighting the development of the government in their three consecutive terms and the development works in constituency.

In this regard, Jaglul Haider said, “The daughter of Bangabandhu gave me the boat sign as he put her trust on me. And the people of the contituency elected me as a representative. I don’t leave the constituency unless necessary. No matter how stormy the situation is, I stand by the common people as these common people have voted me to parliament. Being in the continuously, I am getting the mood of elections among the people.”

 MP-ministers are rushing to the electoral area ahead of the parliamentary elections. Activities like Regular mass communication, workshops, development project inauguration and foundation stone laying are going on. Especially now they’re pulling the party leaders and workers closer. Leaders and workers who have been neglected for a long time now have been getting value. Along with the MP-ministers, the potential nominees are also not far behind in showing their activism. Upazila chairmen are also ahead in the race to become MPs. They have been holding regular workshops and road meetings.

Comilla's Debidwar Upazila Chairman and Comilla South District Awami League's Organizing Secretary Abul Kalam Azad is conducting extensive mass communications in his own area. He wants to get party nomination in Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency. In this context, he told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, said, ‘Let hundreds of flowers bloom, and I will choose the beautiful one.’ That is why we get strength. We are promoting mass communication, government development in the area and getting very good response from the people. We’re working to strengthen the hand of the leader.''

Children of MP-ministers have also started running to succeed their fathers, especially the children of the late MP-ministers are active. Pabna District Awami League Organizing Secretary Galibur Rahman Sharif, the son of late Shamsul Sharif Dilu, the former MP of 5 terms, has been conducting public meetings in his own constituency regularly. He also claimed to be getting massive response from the people of the area.

Galibur Rahman Sharif told The Bangladesh Pratidin, 'My late father was a five-time MP of Pabna-4 constituency and also became a minister. The people of the area miss him. Leaders and workers at all levels of the party and father's followers expect me as to be the successor of my father. That is why I am doing mass communication in the area and getting huge response from people. There is a mood of elections everywhere.

There is a discussion in markets and bazars, tea stalls, salons or restaurants in villages and ports about the prospective candidates of Awami League in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Are the current MPs staying or are new faces coming? In many constituencies, the leaders and activists are now divided into several groups. A group is with existing MPs, again other group has increased contact with the new faces. The current MPs are also busy in communicating with the old leaders with sacrificing mentality and trying to keep the workers-supporters on their side. All in all, the election mood is blowing among  the AL leaders-activists at the grassroots level.

(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 9 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque)