An interest in becoming public representatives among leaders emerging from student politics is growing up as many running and former leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student front of the ruling Awami League (AL), are vying in this year’s upazila parishad elections.

More than a dozen former and incumbent BCL leaders are contesting for the posts of chairman and vice chairman in the first phase of upazila polls slated to be held on 8 May across the country, local sources said.

Many of them are or were the leaders of the organisation’s central committee, while many have appeared from its various district and upazila units.

However, no Chhatra Dal leader has joined the electoral race this year as their mother organisation BNP has decided not to participate in the upazila polls in line with its strategy of boycotting elections under the AL government.

According to the Election Commission’s (EC) polls schedule, the upazila election will be held in four phases this year.

The first phase of the election will be held in 148 upazilas on 8 May.

With a total of 1,693 valid candidates in the first phase, 601 were supposed to vie for the posts of chairman, 645 for the posts of vice chairman, and 447 for vice chairman posts reserved for women.

The respective returning officers allotted the symbols among them on 23 April.

However, 25 candidates – six for chairman posts, nine for vice chairman posts, and 10 for vice chairman posts reserved for women – have already been elected unopposed.

As per the polls schedule, the second phase of upazila elections will be held on 21 May, the third phase on 29 May, and the fourth phase on 5 June.

Student leaders say the highest number of former and current BCL leaders are contesting in the upazila elections this year. Although many former student leaders took part in various previously held local government elections, perhaps, this is the first time many current student leaders are vying in polls.

In the past, student leaders were not usually daring to become candidates in the local government polls due to the complexity of local politics.

But in the last national parliamentary elections, many AL leaders became members of parliament by contesting as independent candidates.

With the upazila election holding without party symbols this time, student leaders have growingly become interested in fighting for the election and thus prove their personal popularity among the mass people.

Also, leaders from Bangladesh Chhatra League (JSD) have also become candidates for two upazilas.

Due to strategic reasons, the AL is not barring any leaders of the party or its affiliate bodies from becoming a candidate in this year’s upazila elections.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader told the media that his party would not even back any candidate indirectly…the field is open for all.

According to local sources, former and current BCL leaders will contest for the 8 May elections in at least 18 upazilas.

Moreover, in the second phase of the election, two former BCL leaders from two upazilas will vie for the post of chairman.

In the first phase, former BCL vice president Manowarul Islam Masud will contest for the post of chairman of Pirgacha upazila of Rangpur district. Masud was the senior vice president of the former central committee with HM Badiuzzaman Sohag its president and Siddique Nazmul Alam secretary.

Among other former central BCL leaders who are contesting for the post of chairman are Mohammad Shariful Hasan from Baraigram upazila of Natore, Mehedey Hasan Rony from Dhanbari upazila of Tangail, M Aminul Islam from Jhenaidah’s Harinakundu, Khair Chowdhury from Kanighat upazila of Sylhet, and Nurul Islam Badsha from Dumuria of Khulna.

BCL’s current central committee Vice President Saddam Hossain is also vying for the post of chairman of Harirampur upazila under Manikganj district.

In this regard, Saddam told the Daily Sun, “I have been involved in Chhatra League politics since my childhood. I want to work for the people. Upazila parishad is a suitable platform to work for the local people and that’s why I have become a candidate here.”

“I am receiving a huge response from the general public. Actually, people have high expectations from young politicians,” he added.

Besides, former BCL central committee vice president Sagor Hossain Sohag has become a vice chairman candidate for Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, while former vice-president of BCL’s Dhaka University unit Arif Al Hasan is running for the same post of Lakhai upazila of Habiganj.

Of the local unit leaders, current President of BCL’s Rangpur district unit Sabbir Ahmed has become the chairman candidate for Rangpur Sadar upazila, while Manikganj district unit’s General Secretary Rajidul Islam is running for the same post of Daulatpur upazila of the district, Brahmanbaria district unit’s General Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shovon for the same post of Sadar upazila and Jhenaidah district unit’s former president Rana Hamid is also vying for the same post of the district’s Harinakundu upazila.

The current General Secretary of BCL’s Gazipur district unit Nasir Morol is running for the post of vice chairman of Sreepur upazila.

Some other leaders of the organisation’s different local units are also running for upazila elections across the country this year.

After getting symbols, these candidates have started campaigning from morning till night and are giving several promises to voters for building a Smart Bangladesh.

Former student leader Mehedey Hasan Rony, who is a chairman candidate for Dhanbari upazila of Tangail, told the Daily Sun that the common people are being deprived of their rights due to local dirty politics and this is because they want the change.  Mentioning that the people expect a lot from young student leaders, Mehedey said, “The participation of student leaders has significantly increased this year’s upazila elections. Hope that voters will support us to make realise the demands they expect from the public representatives.

Chairman candidate for Sylhet’s Kanighat upazila Khair Chowdhury told this newspaper, “We should support the young politicians who dream of bringing a revolutionary change in the society. As a young candidate, it is my commitment to creating an example by truly changing the fate of people.”