Dhaka City Polls: Campaigning kicks off
Mayoral and councillor aspirants are set to launch campaigning for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections from today.
After the deadline ended for withdrawal of candidacy for the two city corporations, the EC yesterday said as of 6pm, 753 candidates -- 13 for mayor and 740 for councillor posts -- will run for the election, to be held on January 30.
DSCC
According to the returning officer, on the last day of withdrawal of candidacy, 125 ward councillor aspirants and 20 reserved women councillor aspirants withdrew their candidacy in DSCC.
Now, 335 ward councillor aspirants and 82 reserved women councillor candidates are vying in the election.
The mayoral candidates in DSCC are: Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh (Awami League), Ishraque Hossain (BNP), Mohammad Saifuddin (Jatiya Party), Abdur Rahman (Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Md Akhtaruzzaman (Bangladesh Congress), Bahrane Sultan Bahar (National People’s Party) and Abdus Samad (Gonofront).
DNCC
In the north, 111 ward councillor aspirants and 12 reserved women councillor aspirants withdrew their candidacy. Now six mayoral candidates, 248 ward councillor aspirants and 75 reserved seat women councillor candidates are competing in the election.
The mayoral candidates in DNCC are: Atiqul Islam (AL), Tabith Awal (BNP), Sajedul Huq Rubel (CPB), Sheikh Md Fazle Bari Masud (Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Shahin Khan (Progressive Democratic Party) and Anisur Rahman Dewan (National Peoples Party).
Candidates will be able to start campaigning immediately after the electoral symbols are allotted this morning. The campaign will continue till 32 hours before voting starts at 8am on January 30.
EC MAHBUB CONCERNED
Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday said the “level playing field” would be hampered if important persons and beneficiaries within the government take part in electioneering.
“With concern, I’m noticing that parliament members are taking part in campaigns ahead of Dhaka north and south city corporation polls, which is a clear violation of the electoral code of conduct 2016,” Mahbub said in an “unofficial note” to Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.
According to electoral code of conduct for the city corporation elections, important persons within the government cannot take part in the pre-election campaign in the electoral areas, he said.
“It’s not understandable to me how they are taking part in campaigning?” Mahbub said, adding that image of the Election Commission would be affected if the trend continues.
Strong enforcement of the electoral code of conduct needs to be ensured, the election commissioner said. “To this end, I urge the authorities concerned to take immediate steps so that parliament members cannot take part in the electioneering,” he said.
Mahbub sent the letter to the CEC, as ruling Awami League formed two committees to coordinate elections to DNCC and DSCC on January 3, comprising top party leaders and lawmakers -- Tofail Ahmed, Amir Hossain Amu, Faruk Khan, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, and Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.
EC TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT AGAINST TAPOSH
DSCC Returning Officer Abdul Baten yesterday said they are investigating an allegation of breaching of electoral code of conduct brought against DSCC Awami League candidate Fazle Nur Taposh.
BNP candidate Ishraque Hossain on Wednesday night lodged the complaint with the RO that Taposh violated electoral code of conduct by pasting colourful posters and banners in different areas of Jhigatola and Motijheel on January 5, before election campaigning is allowed.