Tabith, Ishraque complain of polls code violations
BNP’s mayor candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation Tabith Awal yesterday complained that polls code is being violated incessantly but the Election Commission is not doing anything about it even after complaints were lodged in this regard.
“The Election Commission is encouraging people to break the electoral code of conduct,” he alleged while campaigning in Badda.
Tabith said they submitted a written complaint to the EC on Monday in this regard but the EC is yet to cooperate. “The violation [of electoral code] is getting out of their [the EC] control,” he told journalists.
“In the last six days, we saw various kinds of violations. We also faced obstructions while campaigning. If such environment prevails, we may not have a fair election,” he claimed.
It is the EC’s constitutional obligation to ensure that no such breach in polls code takes place, Tabith added.
According to Mahmud Hasan, media coordinator for Tabith Awal, they complained to the EC that Awami League councillor candidate of ward-37 and his associates assaulted Tabith’s supporters and broke their microphone in DIT Project area of Rampura. Tabith was not present at the campaign event, he said.
Yesterday, Tabith campaigned in Uttar Badda, Satarkul Road, Padardia, Beraid and Kuril areas.
Meanwhile, BNP mayor candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraque Hossain also alleged that the EC is not taking action against those who are violating the electoral code of conduct.
Ishraque was speaking to journalists at a campaigning event in Dhanmondi.
“There are magistrates and presiding officers to look after the issue. We are doing our part by filing complaints with the commission. But we’re yet to see any action from them,” he alleged.
Contacted, DNCC Returning officer Abul Kashem said, “BNP submitted a letter over safety concerns and we have sent it to the police commissioner already. Besides, I have visited different wards and observed that electoral environment is festive and competitive.”
Regarding the complaints of assault, he said, “I had sent a magistrate to the spot after receiving the complaint. We could not verify that it happened. We’re doing our job and trying our best to ensure a fair environment for all.”
Yesterday, Awami League mayor candidate for DNCC Atiqul Islam campaigned in Farmgate, Begunbari and Tejgaon areas while the party’s mayor candidate for DSCC Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh met with prospective voters in Dholaipar area.
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