Case Against Nixon: Section 144 imposed in Faridpur

The local administration yesterday imposed a one-day ban on holding any public gathering in Faridpur's Sadarpur upazila town. 

The ban, from 9:00am yesterday to 9:00am today, was imposed as supporters of independent lawmaker Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, popularly known as Nixon Chowdhury, and Kazi Zafarullah, former lawmaker and also Awami League presidium member, called programmes on the same spot.

According to sources at the Sadarpur upazila administration, the two groups called human chain programmes at the same time in front of Sadarpur Upazila Parishad. The administration made the decision to avoid any untoward incident.

Purabi Goldar, Sadarpur upazila nirbahi officer, said, "We have imposed section 144, fearing that the situation will deteriorate if the two rival groups held programmes on the same venue." 

Sattar Hossain Fakir, vice-president of Sadarpur upazila unit AL and also a follower of Zafarullah, said they took permission from the upazila administration to form a human chain, demanding punishment of Nixon Chowdhury as a case was filed against him for violating the electoral code of conduct during the by-polls for the post of chairman of Charbhadrasan Upazila Parishad.

But Nixon Chowdhury's supporters spoiled the programme by calling a counter-programme, he added.

Kazi Shafiqur Rahman, chairman of Sadarpur Upazila Parishad and a supporter of Nixon, said, "We wanted to form a human chain for withdrawal of the case against Nixon Chowdhury and we will continue our programme."

The by-election to the upazila for the post of chairman was held on October 10.

On Thursday, the Election Commission filed the case with Charbhadrasan Police Station against Nixon for flouting the electoral code during the by-polls.