Lawmakers turn electoral lawbreakers
Incumbent lawmakers of Rajshahi-2 and Narayanganj-4, have been carrying out electoral campaigns in their constituencies, violating electoral code.
Fazle Hossain Badsha of Rajshahi Sadar seat held a series of meetings with professional bodies and communities, and sought votes in the upcoming national election.
Election officials said it is clear violation of electoral code, though Badsha denied it and said these were just indoor meetings and did not violate electoral laws, reports our staff correspondent.
The 11th Jatiya Sangsad election is set to be held on December 30. All kinds of electoral campaigning are prohibited before three weeks of voting day, according to the electoral code of conduct set by the Election Commission (EC).
Badsha inaugurated the office of Retired Officers' Association at Monibazar in the city at around 10:00am yesterday, and exchanged views with retired government officers at Nanking Darbar Hall. He held another views-exchange meeting with local journalists at Simanto Sommelon Kendra, and another with school teachers at premises of a local school.
On Tuesday, he met with lawyers at the city's Bar Bhaban, and on Wednesday, the lawmaker sat with freedom fighters at Kashiadanga area.
In all the meetings, he distributed leaflets with a list of 48 development projects worth Tk 20,000 crore which he claimed were implemented during his 10-year tenure. The leaflet also said “Let us elect Fazle Hossain Badsha as lawmaker in Rajshahi Sadar again”.
Contacted, the district's deputy commissioner SM Abdul Kader, also returning officer of the polls, said: “All types of electoral campaign including vote-seeking are violations of electoral code. If we find such incidents, we will take legal action.”
Asked about it, Badsha said, “I don't think these are in violation of electoral code, because these were indoor meetings.”
Badsha, general secretary of Workers Party of Bangladesh, became a lawmaker contesting the elections in 2009 and 2014 with the “boat” symbol, as the party is a partner of the Awami League-led alliance.
SHAMIM OSMAN CAMPAIGNS IN N'GANJ
Narayanganj-4 lawmaker Shamim Osman conducted electoral campaign at Adarsha Nagar, Nimai Kashari and Noyaati areas in the city yesterday afternoon, violating electoral code.
Over a hundred followers of the Awami League lawmaker chanted slogans and sought votes for boat symbol during the campaign, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.
At the start of the campaign, Shamim Osman in his speech said, “I have come to you not to seek vote, but to seek blessings... You will cast your vote after evaluating who is necessary for the development of this area.”
Contacted, Ataur Rahman, district election officer, said all sorts of campaigning are violations of electoral law. “We have not received any allegations of violating electoral law. If we get a complaint, we will take action. We have deployed executive magistrates who will start functioning from tomorrow (today). They will look into these incidents.”
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