Councillor candidates flout polls rules

Many Awami League (AL) supported councillor candidates for Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls are violating the electoral code of conduct.

Mentioning that they are "nominated by the ruling party" on posters and banners, they are continuing their campaigns in the port city.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the councillor election is non-partisan with no official nomination of candidates by parties. No candidate can mention that any political party nominated or support them on campaign materials. They cannot even mention it verbally during campaigning.

During a visit to West Bakalia and Chawkbazar yesterday, this correspondent noticed that at least three candidates mentioned that AL nominated them on posters.

In West Bakalia (Ward-17), Shahid-ul-Alam, AL-backed candidate in Ward-17, and Shahin Akter Rosy, AL-backed candidate for reserved seat for women in Ward-17, 18 and 19, mentioned nomination.

In Chawkbazar (Ward-16), Rumki Sengupta, AL-backed candidate for reserved seat for women in Ward-16, 20 and 32, mentioned nomination.

Asked, Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, regional election officer of Chattogram and returning officer of CCC polls, said they also noticed this practice in some areas, which clearly violates the electoral code of conduct.

"We have issued show-cause notice to candidates who violated code of conduct and asked them to remove the posters and banners immediately," he said. "We will take tough action, if they do not remove those swiftly," he added.

Contacted, candidate Rumki said she mentioned AL nomination as "everybody was doing it". "I am not lying, as the party did nominate me."

Asked whether parties can nominate candidates for non-partisan councillor posts, Rumki said AL is not nominating but supporting her. Asked if she got any notice from the returning officer, Rumki replied in the negative.

Shahid-ul-Alam, however, said he got a notice on Monday and was preparing to remove his posters and replace them. "Actually, I did not know about the law," he said. "I always honour the law."

Shahid said AL is supporting him, but many candidates in their campaign were claiming to voters that they were also AL-supported. "To remove confusion among voters, I mentioned it in my posters. But now that I know it is a violation, I am removing the posters," he said.

The Daily Star could not contact Rosy for comments.