Shajahan, Selim take part in electioneering in breach of electoral code.

Independent lawmaker Haji Mohammad Selim on Friday sought blessings and vote for Awami League-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka south city corporation, Sayeed Khokon, from devotees during jumma prayer at Chawkbazar Shahi Jam-e-mosque in the city. Shipping minister, local lawmaker Sanjida Khanam and several AL leaders joined an election meeting of Kazi Habibur Rahman, a councillor aspirant for ward 51 in the Dhaka South, Friday evening, violating the electoral code of conduct. Independent lawmaker Haji Mohammad Selim extended his support for Khokon and assured the latter of investing his full strength to ensure his victory in the April 28 mayoral elections. He offered jumma prayer with Khokon at the mosque and also hosted a lunch for Khokon and his associates including a dozen senior Awami League leaders at his residence. Khokon told New Age that Haji Selim had requested him to say jumma prayer with him at Chawkbazar mosque. ‘Upon his request I went to the mosque and offered Juma prayer with him.

He introduced me with the mosque-goers and sought their blessing for me,’ he said. A mosque-goer, who offered jumma prayer at the mosque, confirmed that while introducing Khokon to them, Haji Selim also sought vote for Khokon. According to the electoral code of conduct for the city polls, the candidates or anyone on behalf of them cannot carry out electioneering in any religious establishment. Furthermore, election campaigns for the ensuing civic polls before April 7 shall be a violation of electoral code of conduct, according to a press release of the election commission. Selim, also Dhaka city Awami League acting joint general secretary, was a mayoral aspirant for Dhaka south city corporation before being denied party support. Locals said the shipping minister and other AL leaders joined the election meeting held at Tamirul Millat Madrassah at Jatrabari. Besides, election commission’s executive magistrate fined on Friday a supporter of Awami League-backed mayoral aspirant for Dhaka north city corporation Annisul Huq, and five councillor aspirants, for electioneering in breach of electoral code of conduct.

Executive magistrate Sarower Alam told New Age that he fined one Engineer Anowar Hossain Tk 20,000 for pasting coloured posters at Manikdibazar in favour of Annisul Huq. Asked whether he fined or warned the mayoral aspirant, Annisul Huq, for violating electoral code, the executive magistrate replied in the negative saying, ‘he is unaware of the posters.’ Five mayoral aspirants and 75 councillor aspirants whose candidatures were cancelled by the returning officers on Thursday and Friday appealed, challenging the decision of cancelling their nomination.

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