To campaign or not on social media

Unlike some ruling party stalwarts, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam refrained from physically electioneering for AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, but he campaigned for his party's mayoral candidate on Facebook.

In two poetic lines, Shahriar wrote in a Facebook post on July 16 that Rajshahi would be the best, abounding with work and development and asked his friends and followers to vote for Liton. Around 1,400 followers liked the post and 54 of them shared it.

The next day, he shared a photograph that shows a woman with a child in her arms blessing Liton, who was surrounded by a number of followers distributing leaflets.

“Liton bhai for present and future generations,” Shahriar captioned the photograph. More than 1,500 people liked the post and at least 115 shared it.

Talking to The Daily Star over phone yesterday, Shahriar said he was unaware that campaigning on Facebook was prohibited.

“I stand by my Facebook campaign until I know it's prohibited by electoral rules,” he said. “If the Election Commission rules it illegal, I would react as a responsible person belonging to the government,” he added.

Contacted, Retuning Officer Syed Amirul Islam said any sort of electioneering by ministers or lawmakers is prohibited. He, however, said he had no clear concept of campaigning on Facebook. “In the electoral laws, none of the social media has been mentioned,” he noted.

He said during the recent visit of the Election Commissioner, the issue was raised. “The Election Commissioner also could not give a precise answer,” he said.

In another Facebook post yesterday, the state minister campaigned for Liton again and this time, criticised the election strategy of BNP's mayoral candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul without naming him.

The returning officer said the minister must not criticise another candidate.

Asked, Hamidul Haque, a senior lawyer of Rajshahi, said campaigning by the ministers and lawmakers on Facebook would be illegal as well. “Social media is a powerful platform for campaigning in this digital age,” he added.

However, the returning officer said he had verbally warned Liton and his election agents about participation of ministers and lawmakers in campaigns.

Despite his warning, newly-elected mayor of Khulna Talukder Abdul Khaleque was still in Rajshahi electioneering for Liton.

He was yet to take over as mayor, Khaleque argued when asked about it.

The returning officer said Khaleque's participation would be illegal as he has already been sworn in.

He said warning was also issued for lawmakers Omar Faruk Chowdhury, Ayen Uddin, Abdul Wadud Dara of Rajshahi and Shafiqul Islam Shimul of Natore for campaigning in favour of Liton on July 16-18.