Independent mayor candidate of Jajira municipality election lodges complaint against Shariatpur-1 lawmaker

An independent mayor candidate of Jajira municipality election in Shariatpur has filed a written complaint against Shariatpur-1 lawmaker Md Iqbal Hossain with the returning officer, bringing allegations of violating the electoral code of conduct.

"Independent candidate Md Idris Mia lodged the complaint on January 23," Md Monzur Hossain Khan, Jajira upazila election officer and also assistant returning officer of the municipality polls, told The Daily Star.

"The complaint was handed over to the returning officer of the polls on that day," he said.

In the complaint, Idris said that Iqbal was campaigning for Awami League mayor candidate though he [lawmaker] cannot do so according to the electoral code of conduct.

Some activists of the lawmaker were making provocative speeches against independent mayoral candidates and creating panic, the complaint added.

As a result, the level playing field was lost, Idris also mentioned in his complaint.

"We are looking into the matter," Mohammad Zahid Hossain, Shariatpur district election officer and also the returning officer of Jajira municipality election, told The Daily Star.

Lawmaker Iqbal Hossain participated in the campaign of Jajira municipality polls for several days in favour of Awami League mayor candidate Abdul Haque Kabiraz, some voters said.

According to the district election office, Jajira municipality polls is scheduled to be held on January 30 where 17,258 voters are expected to cast their votes.

The Daily Star could not reach Iqbal for comments till filing of this report.