Chattogram City Corporation Polls: Campaigners violating health rules

Supporters of Awami League and BNP mayoral candidates are not maintaining health guidelines, as they started campaigning on Friday, ahead of January 27 Chattogram City Corporation election, creating a possibility of worsening the Covid-19 situation.

AL mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury campaigned at South Pahartoli, Jalalabad and Panchlaish on Friday and Jamal Khan, Anderkilla and Laldighi on Saturday.

Numerous leaders and activists participated in the campaigns. Many were seen not wearing facemasks and violating distancing norms.

The same situation prevailed during BNP candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain's campaigns at Laldighi, Kotwali and Anderkilla on Friday and Patenga on Saturday.

Contacted, Rezaul said he urged his followers to put on facemasks and follow health rules not only during campaigning but also every time they go outside.

Shahadat could not be contacted over phone despite repeated attempts.

On the issue, BNP Chattogram city unit vice president Abu Sufian said most of their activists were wearing masks during the campaigns.

"We have instructed them to follow health rules strictly," he said. However, absolute compliance is not possible during campaign, he added.

Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, regional election officer, Chattogram and returning officer of CCC polls, told The Daily Star, "We asked them [the candidates] to gather limited number of people during campaigning and they have assured us in this regard."

He said 14 executive magistrates have been deployed since Saturday to look into violation of health directives and electoral code of conduct.

No action has been taken till writing of this report yesterday.