Issue circular to bar lawmakers from polls activities: EC Mahbub
Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday urged the commission to issue a specific circular stating that lawmakers and ministers will not be able to take part in any election-related activities during the upcoming Dhaka city corporations’ polls.
According to existing electoral code of conduct, MPs and ministers cannot take part in any election-related activities including electioneering in city corporation polls, Mahbub said in a letter to the chief election commissioner and other three commissioners.
“There is some confusion regarding electoral code of conduct. A specific circular is needed with directives on electoral code of conduct, so that no confusion exists. If this kind of confusion exists, questions can arise regarding the Dhaka city corporation elections.”
“It is unfortunate that those who have passed the electoral code of conduct are now opposing it,” Mahbub Talukdar said, regarding ruling Awami League’s demand for allowing MPs and ministers to take part in election-related activities.
The comments come in the wake of growing tensions between the ruling party and Election Commission, over MPs participation in the campaigns of Dhaka city polls slated for January 30. It began after AL on January 3 formed two committees comprising several lawmakers to coordinate campaigns for mayor hopefuls from the AL tent. Two days later, another AL lawmaker inaugurated the election office of their Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral candidate.
AL leaders on several occasions in separate public programmes demanded that MPs and ministers be allowed to take part in campaign.
‘HINDUS DISAPPOINTED’
Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian-Oikya Parishad general secretary Rana Dasgupta yesterday said that they were frustrated, as the EC has not changed the election date that coincides with Saraswati Puja.
After a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, he also said members of the Hindu community will not shoulder the responsibility if any untoward incident centering the elections on Saraswati Puja.
“We placed the demand while the Election Commission spoke about its constitutional obligations and was rigid on their position. We are returning with disappointment,” Rana said.
Asked about it, EC senior secretary Md Alamgir said the commission will act in accordance with court directives on Dhaka north and south city corporation elections, scheduled for January 30.
A writ petition filed with the High Court seeking a directive to defer the date for a week -- as Saraswati Puja is on the election day -- is under process, he said.
Alamgir said the commission set January 30 for election according to the government calendar. According to the calendar, January 29 is an optional holiday for Saraswati Puja.
HC ORDER TODAY
The High Court will deliver its order today on the petition that sought a directive on the Election Commission to defer the election date. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice MD Khairul Alam set the date for passing an order, after concluding hearing on the petition.
On January 6, Supreme Court lawyer Ashoke Kumar Ghosh filed the writ petition.
TABITH FILES COMPLAINT
Meanwhile, BNP mayoral candidate in DNCC, Tabith Awal in a written complaint lodged to the returning office, alleged that Awami League men attacked him and his campaigners on Sunday morning, and sought police protection.
DNCC RO Abul Kashem said he had received the compliant and would investigate the matter. “I will talk to police about giving police protection for him,” he added.
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