Dhaka City Polls Electioneering begins with code breach

Electioneering for the mayoral polls to Dhaka north and south cities, scheduled for January 30, began on Friday amid allegations of violating electoral code of conduct by candidates of both the ruling Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Supporters of Awami League candidates Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh for south city and Md Atiqul Islam for north city and BNP candidates Ishraque Hossain for south city and Tabith Awal for north city, brought out processions violating the electoral code of conduct after the returning officers concerned allocated electoral symbols.

After getting his electoral symbol ‘boat’ immediate past Dhaka north city mayor Atiqul Islam urged the Election Commission to allow lawmakers to join the electioneering.

Addressing a press conference at his election office at Uttara, Atiq said that allowing lawmakers in the electioneering was important to ensure a level playing field as former lawmakers are participating in canvasing for his opponent contestant.

He said MPs should be allowed in campaign as they also hold party posts.

Atiq also said that he will make provision of submitting annual financial statements by councillors if he gets elected.

Atiq’s competitor BNP’s Tabith stared his electioneering from Uttara sector 7 Jame Mosque after Jumma prayers. Several hundred BNP leaders and activists joined in the campaign.

Communist Party of Bangladesh mayoral candidate Ahammad Sajedul Huq started his electioneering after paying respects to martyrs at Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur.

Besides, BNP’s mayoral candidate in Dhaka south city Ishraque Hossain termed the Election Commission as backbone less one saying that it does not take any action against ruling party candidate even he submitted complaint in four days ago.

‘I lodged complaint against Awami League nominated candidate four days ago. But the Election Commission is yet to take any action,’ he told journalists after getting his election symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ at Gopibagh Community Centre.

He started his electioneering after Jumma prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Participating Ishraque’s campaign, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sought blessings from the people for his party nominated mayoral candidates.

Fakhrul told journalists that they were participating in the election for releasing democracy and Khaleda Zia from confinement.

‘We have started our movement keeping Ishraq in the forefront to reach the goal,’ he said.

They also distributed leaflets among the people seeking votes in favour of the BNP candidate.        

Awami League candidate for the south city Taposh started his electioneering form capital’s Demra area. Several hundred of leaders and activists joined his campaign.

Besides, candidates for councillor and reserved seats for women councillor also brought out processions in their respective electoral areas violating the election code of conduct.

After allocating the election symbols among the candidates, Dhaka south city returning officer Abul Baten and Dhaka north city returning officer Abul Kashem requested the candidates to not to violate electoral code of conducts during their campaigns.

Earlier on Thursday, election commissioner Mahbub Talukder sent an ‘unofficial note’ to the chief election commissioner and returning officers of Dhaka north and south city saying that the level playing field for the candidates would not be ensured if lawmakers participate in the electioneering.

He said that he noticed that a good number of lawmakers are participating electioneering in favour of their mayoral candidates even the City Corporation (Electoral Code) Rules 2016 does not allow the MPs to join such campaign.

He urged the CEC and returning officers to take immediate steps on it. Otherwise, the neutrality of the Election Commission will be questioned, he said.

According to returning officers, six mayor candidates, 251 councillor candidates, and 77 councillor candidates for reserved seats for women are contesting in the DNCC polls while seven mayor candidates, 355 councillor candidates, and 82 councillor candidates for reserved seats for women are contesting the DSCC polls.

In DNCC, Awami League candidate Atiqul Islam was given `Boat’ symbol while BNP nominated mayoral candidate Tabith Awal got `Sheaf of Paddy’.

Besides, Communist Party of Bangladesh candidate Sajedul got symbol `sickle’, Progressive Democratic Party ‘s Shain Khan got `Tiger’, Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Bari Masud got `Hand Fan’ and National People’s Party nominated candidate Ansisul Haq Dulal received `Mango’ as poll symbols.

In DSCC, AL’ s Taposh was given poll symbol `Boat’ while BNP’s Ishraq got `sheaf of paddy’. Jatiya Party’s Mohammad Saifuddin Milon got `plough’, Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Abdur Rahman got `Hand Fan’, National People’s Party Bahrane Sultan got `Mango’, Bangladesh Congress candidate Akteruzzaman Ayatullah got `Coconut’ and Jatiya Gana Front candidate Abdus Samad Sujon got `Fish’ as electoral symbols.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net