City Polls Code Violations Election commissioner Mahbub accuses magistrates of inaction
Election commissioner Mahbub Talukder on Monday alleged that activities of the executive magistrates not visible yet to check violation of electoral code of conduct by the contestants during the electioneering of the mayoral polls to Dhaka north and south city corporations.
Mahbub Talukder made the allegation in an ‘unofficial note’ sent to the chief election commissioner, other commissioners and returning officers for the cities.
In his note, he urged the CEC and people concerned to take immediate actions on it on priority basis otherwise gaining people’s trust could not be possible by the Election Commission, said EC officials.
‘The crisis of people’s trust in Election Commission could not be solved if the commission doesn’t take necessary measures to check violation of electoral code of conduct,’ Talukder said.
Question will be raised in people’s mind and inaction of the EC will be evident if the commission fails to regulate the electoral activities as per the law, he said.
Talukder said that earlier on January 13 through a UO Note he had requested the CEC and ROs to issue a circular elaborating the rules banning lawmaker’s participation in electioneering in the city polls.
He said that he came to know through the media reports that a ruling Awami League lawmaker is still conducting electioneering and another had said that the party would hold meeting at every wards marking Mujib Year.
He said that Dhaka North City Corporation circulated an advertisement in the daily Prothom Alo about its last year’s success in fighting dengue. This advertisement was nothing but a campaign for mayoral candidate who is also the immediate past mayor of DNCC.
‘Action can be taken against the officials of the DNCC for such activities,’ he added.
He also said various questions about the affidavits of the candidates have arisen among different quarters, but the commission is yet to scrutinise the affidavits.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
