N'ganj City Polls: Election code violation on

A number of mayoral and councillor candidates of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls are allegedly conducting election campaign violating an electoral code of conduct that prohibits electioneering before symbol allocation.

The elections officers have verbally warned some councillor candidates but turned a blind eye to the mayoral aspirants.

As per the electoral code of conduct, no candidate, person, organisation or political party can conduct campaign before allocation of electoral symbols.

In the upcoming NCC polls, symbols would be allocated among the candidates on December 5 and voting would be held on December 22.

However, some candidates have been campaigning for last couple of days in the name of different social programmes to draw the attention of the voters.

BNP-nominated mayoral candidate Shakhawat Hossain allegedly conducted campaign in Masdair area in the name of exchange greetings yesterday morning. His supporters were chanting slogans and seeking votes for “dhaner shish” (sheaf of paddy), the electoral symbol of BNP.

Hossain along with his supporters on Tuesday allegedly distributed leaflets in central Kheya Ghat area seeking votes.

Ruling Awami League (AL)-nominated mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy on Monday allegedly conducted campaign in Shaheednagar area in the name of exchange greetings with women.

Supporters of Ivy chanted were seen chanting slogans and seeking votes for “boat,” the electoral symbol of AL.

Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh-nominated candidate Mahabubur Rahman Ismail has allegedly been electioneering with party symbol “spade” for last couple of days.

Minhazul Quadir Mimon, a councillor aspirant of Ward No. 17, arranged a reception programme for freedom fighters as part of campaign in Jallarpar area on November 28. An election officer, however, foiled the programme upon receiving the information.

Besides, councillor aspirants Shaon Angkon of Ward No. 8, Robiul Hossain and Maksudul Alam Khandaker of Ward No. 13, Azahar Hossain of Ward No. 15, and Kabir Hossain of Word No. 18 have allegedly been conducting campaign in different forms.

“We have found some incidents of violation of electoral code by councillor aspirants. We have warned them verbally. Besides, we summoned some of them and took undertakings that they would not do it anymore,” said Nuruzzaman Talukder, returning officer (RO) of NCC elections.

He claimed that he did not get any information of violation by mayoral aspirants.

Three mobile courts have been in operation for checking any such violation, Nuruzzaman added.

Jahirul Islam Jahir, coordinator of the media cell of Ivy's campaign, has meanwhile said, “We did not conduct any campaign. Ivy went there to exchange greetings with women. As she [Ivy] has popularity among them, the women chanted slogans. But Ivy requested them to stop.”

Talking to The Daily Star, Shakhawat Hossain also denied violating the electoral code and said he was doing everything as per rules.

Mahabubur Rahman Ismail could not be contacted over phone.

A correspondent from Narayanganj contributed to the story.