The Crime Desk: Amidst the political and ideological disputes between the four regional political parties of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, there has been a new polarization around the local government council elections. PCJSS and UPDF, known as the two main regional political parties in the hills, have united around the polls amid political antagonism. In the 12th National Assembly elections, the regional parties are trying to show their organizational strength in the upazila polls, even though they did not participate in the polls because of the ‘fair environment’ of the elections in the country. Especially in the political dispute between the UPDF and JSS, the two parties have taken a one-sided position. Four regional parties are apparently divided into two sides over the Upazila Parishad elections. For strategic reasons, they are talking about supporting the leader of the national political party in the election. Meanwhile, UPDF-JSS has taken a unilateral position. On the other hand, UPDF (Democratic) and JSS (MN Larma) have taken the opposite positions. The party has had political affinity with the JSS (MN Larma) since its inception, basically the UPDF (Democratic). However, the political disagreement and conflict between Santu Larma’s JSS, which has taken a firm stand in favor of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Agreement, and Prasit Khisa’s UPDF, which strongly opposes the agreement, is visible. JSS-UPDF has united even in the midst of political disputes surrounding the polls.
On May 29, the third phase of polling for Baghaichhari, Nanyarchar, and Longadu upazila parishads of Rangamati is going to be held. Baghaichari is the largest upazila in Rangamati in terms of area and geography. There are nine candidates for the upazila parish elections to be held on May 29 in the third phase. Meanwhile, current upazila parishad chairman Sudarshan Chakma is contesting for the post of chairman in the horse symbol, and Olive Chakma, the newly-former chairman of Baghaichhari Union, is in the pineapple symbol. Sudarshan Chakma is the Deputy General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chittagong Hill Tracts People’s Solidarity Association (MN Larma), and Olive Chakma is the Vice President of the District Volunteer League.
There are five candidates for the position of vice chairman in this upazila: the current vice chairman, Abdul Qayyum, in the book symbol, Diptiman Chakma in the lock symbol, Nikhil Jeevan Chakma in the airplane symbol, and Md. in the glasses symbol. Anwar Hossain and Tubewell are fighting in the symbol of Md. Mansoor Ali. On the other hand, current women vice chairperson Sagarika and former women vice chairperson Sumita Chakma are contesting for the position of women vice chairperson in the symbol of football. Voters say that since there are two candidates each, there will be a strong election battle for the posts of chairman and female vice chairman in Baghaichhari.
A total of eight candidates have been elected in Naniarchar upazila. Among them, the current chairman, Pragati Chakma cup-piritch, Rupam Dewan doat-pen, Jyotilal Chakma motor-cycle, and Amar Jeevan Chakma pineapple symbol, are contesting for the post of chairman. Among the four, Pragati Chakma is the former vice president of the Rangamati district committee of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Association (MN Larma), while Rupam Dewan is the current organizing secretary of the upazila committee. Jyotilal Chakma is the former chairman of Nanyarchar UP, and Amar Jeevan is the former chairman of the Chakma Ghilachari Union. Both Jyotilal and Amar Jeevan are associated with UPDF politics. Sujith Talukdar Tubewell and Vinay Krishna Chakma are contesting the book symbol for the vice chairman post. Former women vice-chairmen Kwalita Chakma Prajapati and Anita Chakma are contesting the Kalas symbol for the post of women vice-chairman.
On the other hand, the current Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Barek Sarkar is contesting for the post of chairman in Longadu Upazila with a horse symbol, Babul Das (Babu) with a pineapple symbol, current vice chairman Sirajul Islam Chowdhury Doat Pen, and former UP chairman Abshar Ali with a motorcycle symbol. Among them, Abdul Barek Sarkar is the former president of the Longdu Upazila Awami League, Babul Dash Babu is the current general secretary, and Sirajul Islam Chowdhury is the current vice president. On the other hand, Abshar Ali was once associated with the Bengali community-based organization ‘Sam-Adhikar Andolan’ in Rangamati district. Tofail Ahmed Babul on the Tubewell symbol, Rakib Hossain on the Book symbol, and Kalyan Priya Chakma on the Glasses symbol are contesting for the post of Vice Chairman. On the other hand, the present female vice chairperson, Anwara Begum, is contesting for the position of female vice chairman in the football symbol and Fatima Jinnah in the pitcher symbol.
The polarization of regional political calculations in Baghaichhari Upazila of Rangamati is as varied as ever. Although Sudarshan Chakma is a candidate of the Chittagong Hill Tracts People’s Solidarity Association (MN Lerma), he is getting the support of a large section of the local Awami League. On the other hand, despite being involved in Awami League politics, volunteer league leader Olive entered the polling field with the full support of UPDF-JSS in the upazila.
Former leader of Pragati Chakma Jan Sanhati Samiti (MN Larma) is in Naniarchar Upazila Parishad, and Rupam Dewan is currently the organizing secretary of the Upazila Committee of Jan Sanhati Samiti (MN Larma); however, Rupam did not get the support of the party. The other two are Jyotilal Chakma and Amar Jeevan Chakma. Both of them are known in the area as former UP Chairman and UPDF stalwarts. But in the end, only one of the two gets the party support of the UPDF.
Regional political parties have no candidates in Longadu Upazila. However, the Upazila Awami League general secretary and pineapple symbol candidate, Babul Das Babu, has been supported by the Chittagong Hill Tracts People’s Solidarity Association (MN Lerma). It is still unclear who will get the votes supported by the Jana Sanhati Samiti (JSS), which has a strong organizational position in the upazila.
Angya Marma, the spokesperson of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), said, “The party has a position in the hill elections. This time, too, the party has taken a strategic position. We have also supported JSS-supported candidates in various upazilas. That doesn’t mean we support JSS. Our political positions and ideological differences remain the same. The party has taken a strategic position in the national interest or in the interest of greater unity. So that other problems, including fratricidal conflict in the mountains, will be solved.
Jupiter Chakma, General Secretary of the Rangamati District Committee of the Chittagong Hill Tracts People’s Solidarity Association (MN Larma), said, ‘Sudarshan Chakma is the candidate supported by our party in Baghaichhari upazila. Babul Das Babu (General Secretary of the Upzilla Awami League) has been given the support of our party in Longadu. However, although Rupam Dewan, the organizing secretary of the upazila committee of the Naniarchar Party, voted, he is not being supported by our party.
Several leaders of Parbatya Chittagong Jana Sanhati Samithi (PCJSS), led by Santu Larma, did not receive any statements. The mobile phone of the party’s spokesperson and vice president of the central committee, former MP Ushatan Talukder, was also found switched off.
UPDF (Democratic) central president Shyamal Chakma said, “We have no candidate in any upazila of Rangamati in the third phase of voting. However, we have given party support to Sudarshan Chakma, the leader of JSS-NM Larma in Baghaichhari. The other two upazilas, Nanyarchar and Longadu, will be chosen by the general public, which is more popular. We will provide support with strategic considerations in mind.
Rangamati District Awami League General Secretary Haji Md. Mucha Matbar said, “The decision of the leader (Sheikh Hasina) in the upazila parishad election is final. The leader said to check who has as much popularity as possible. There is not a single candidate supporting our party. There is no question of supporting someone separately. Whoever is voting can vote for the candidate of his choice.
Incidentally, the total number of voters in the three upazilas of Rangamati to be held in the third phase is 1 lakh, 77 thousand, and 981 people. The total number of voters in the Baghaichhari Upazila Parishad election is 78 thousand 29 people. Among them were 40 thousand 796 male voters, 37 thousand 232 female voters, and 1 transgender voter. 39 polling stations. The total number of voters in the Longadu Upazila Parishad election is 61,263 people. Among them were 31 thousand 877 male voters and 29 thousand 386 female voters. 23 polling stations. The total number of voters in Naniarchar upazila is 38,689 people. Among them were 19 thousand 832 male voters and 18 thousand 857 female voters. 14 polling stations.
