Mongla, Aug 23 (V7N) — Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Lion Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam has said loyal and long-serving party workers will not be overlooked in selecting candidates for upcoming local government elections.

He said candidates for union, upazila and municipality elections would be selected after properly reviewing their backgrounds and taking the opinions of party leaders and grassroots activists.

“The party will ensure that those who have made sacrifices are not deprived. Candidates will be selected through proper scrutiny and by considering the views of everyone,” he said.

The minister also warned that political affiliation would not protect drug dealers and extortionists from action.

“Drug traders and extortionists will not be judged by their political identity. They will receive no special treatment. Their identity is that they are involved in drug trafficking and extortion,” he said.

He further warned against illegal fishing practices and wildlife offences in the Sundarbans.

“Fish are being caught by using poison. Everyone must remain vigilant to stop this practice. No one should come to me seeking intervention in such illegal activities. I will not tolerate the use of poison for fishing or the hunting of tigers and deer,” he said.

He urged those involved in criminal activities to reform themselves and warned that party affiliation would not protect anyone from legal action.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at an exchange meeting organised by the Mongla municipal and upazila units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the Upazila Parishad auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

He also described the BNP as a liberal democratic political party and said it was different from other political parties.

“We are a liberal democratic party. We are different from others. Our leaders have even embraced people who did not vote for them,” he said.

The meeting was chaired by Upazila BNP President Abdul Mannan Howlader.

Among others, Upazila BNP General Secretary Abu Hossain Poni, Municipal BNP President Md Zulfikar Ali, General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Manik, and BNP leaders Abu Taleb Howlader, Sheikh Rustum Ali, Nasir Talukdar, Golam Nur Jony, Mridha Farukul Islam and freedom fighter Abu Hanif attended the meeting.

A large number of BNP leaders, activists and supporters from different levels of the municipal and upazila units were also present.

END/AHS/SMA/