LONDON: The local government and European parliament elections of Great Britain will be held on May 22.
On that day elections to 73 European parliament seats, in 32 Baras of Greater London, in 36 Metropolitan Baras, in 74 second tier district authorities, in 20 unitary authorities and in some posts of Executive mayors.
In Britain the local government elections are held on party basis. Each party nominates its candidates. Many independent candidates also contests.
However, there is no festivity like situation as in India and Bangladesh yet the ‘Third Bangla known’ Tower Hamlets of East London has become feverish.
Among others Satellite Television Channel I European zone chief Reza Ahmed Faisal Chowdhury Shoeb is also contesting as an independent candidate.
In the race among the major political parties John Biggs-Labour party, Christopher Wilford- Conservative, Rathindra Nath Banarjee- LIBDEM, Lutfar Rahman- Tower Hamlets First, Nicholas Mackain- UK Independent, Chris Smith-Green Party and Hugo Piero of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates are there.
The Bengali inhabited Tower Hamlets is known as ‘Third Bangla’. It is said that after Bangladesh and West Bengal majority Bangalees live here.
From that point of view the election of Tower Hamlets Bara has drawn the attention of the Bangladeshis residing in Britain. The election of tower Hamlets has not only drawn the attraction for the Bangladeshis rather it has drawn the interests of the mainstream British politics. The mainstream media broadcasted reports are creating mixed reaction among all. The main reason of this reaction is the contester Lutfar Rahman, the present executive mayor.
After the introduction of executive mayor system of Tower Hamlets, Lutfar Rahman was the first elected mayor. The Bangladeshi expatriate Lutfar first performed the responsibility of leader of the council as a Labour Party candidate. But he did not get the nomination of Labour Party in the mayoral election.
He was deprived of the nomination for alleged violation of party discipline. He also went to the court challenging the party decision. In the last mayoral election he won convincingly. But he could not overcome the controversy. He was accused in different media as the champion of ‘Islamic Republic of Tower Hamlets’ politicization.
Recently several allegations were made in BBC panorama which has created uproar in the mainstream.
This time Lutfar has set up an organization styled as ‘Tower Hamlets First’. He has become candidate from this organization and also fielded candidates for all ward councils. There is also mixed reactions for this attempt of Lutfar in the mainstream.
Lutfar’s supporters termed this media propaganda as a part of racialism enmity. The racialists being jealous have started this propaganda. The anti-Lutfar camp however said that Lutfar has used the whole community in his personal interests and hatching conspiracy against the community by segregating it from the mainstream.
It appears that the Bangladeshi community is now divided over the Tower Hamlets election. According to analysts, this may impair harm for the community. In this way the Tower Hamlets election has created festivity, scare, optimism among the Bangladeshi community.
There is threadbare analysis that against swimming against current how far Lutfar will be successful or where he is taking the community as a whole.
Labour Party is an inseparable part of Tower Hamlets. This party is giving leadership of this Bara for a long time. Peter Shoer MP of Labour Party in 1971 liberation war by extending his all out support for Bangladesh had established a bridge with the Bangladeshi community. Political analysts think that the Bara is still carrying that traditional relation.
Roshanara Ali was elected first British-Bangladeshi MP from this Bara. As Labour Party candidate Pola Monzilauddin became the first Bangalee member of House of Lords. So there is an emotional attachment of the Bangladeshi community with Labour Party.
In upcoming election Jhon Bigs is contesting as Labour Party candidate. For this reason there is a huge response in the community. Similarly, Lutfar alleging himself as the victim of racialism politics is trying to capture the sympathy of the Bangladeshi community to become mayor for the second time.
Every body is waiting to get the result of this ballot battle till May 23 because the result will be announced on that day.
BDST: 1442 HRS, MAY 17, 2014