Shajahan slams Manjur just 3 days before Ctg polls
Asks port staff to strengthen Hasina's hands; observers call it tacit campaign for Nasir
Just three days before the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday criticised the former mayor, Manjur Alam, who is again contesting with BNP's blessings, and urged Cittagong port staff to strengthen Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina's “hands” for further development.
Many termed this a tacit campaign in favour of the ruling party-backed candidate, which, by a minister, is a violation of election rules.
According to Article 14 (A) of the code of conduct for city corporation elections, “... ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers or anybody of their status cannot participate in election campaigns or electoral activities ...”
It is clear that by asking to strengthen the ruling party president's “hands”, the minister had sought votes to elect the candidate the party backed, Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik Secretary Prof Badiul Alam Majumdar told The Daily Star.
Shajahan was addressing as chief guest a reception for the Chittagong port's employees, along with families of the deceased, who were freedom fighters at Chittagong Port Training Centre, organised by Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) marking the port's 128th anniversary.
He said the PM, citing the need for the city's development, had asked him at an Ecnec meeting to pay CCC Tk 112 crore CPA owed in a bill.
“I handed over the money in a single cheque to the then city mayor Manjur. I requested him to set up a truck terminal...but he did not do it so far,” he said, adding that it was later constructed with CPA funds.
He said though mitigating waterlogging was not CPA's duty, they had bought a multipurpose dredger following the PM's directive. “We have plans to build sluice gates on Mohes Khal (canal),” he said.
“To get Sabri banana, you have to plant the same tree. You can not get it by planting another tree. By bringing the criminals and terrorists to power, you can not get Sabri banana.
“We need to keep Sheikh Hasina in power to lead the country towards development,” he added.