'Outsiders' in campaign despite ban

A number of Awami League and BNP leaders from Dhaka were seen on the campaign trail in Chittagong yesterday for two mayoral candidates of CCC polls, violating an earlier decision by the Election Commission.
The EC had decided not to allow any outsider in the port city after Sunday until the June 17 elections are held.
However, the central leaders said the decision was not well circulated.
"It was not known to me as Election Commission did not circulate this decision. I heard about the decision from journalists. I am leaving the area right now as I am a law abiding person," said Asaduzzaman Noor MP while talking to The Daily Star.
Former lawmaker and Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal president Moazzem Hossain Alal said the Election Commission created the confusion by not publicising the decision.
Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader MP and BNP's joint secretary general Amanullah Aman, too, conducted electoral campaign in different areas of the city.
However, Jasmine Tuli, a returning officer, said it was a misunderstanding and yesterday she had talked to the agents of the candidates in this regard.
"We would not tolerate any violation of rules or decisions made for the sake of free and fair polls," she told The Daily Star around 2:30pm.
Assistant returning officer Farhad Hossain said every outsider was supposed to leave the city by yesterday.
Meanwhile, representatives of different civil society organisations said direct backing of two major parties to the mayoral candidates made the election a 'battle of two parties'. The CCC polls have lost the characteristic of a non-partisan election.
Ruling Awami League backs Mohiuddin Chowdhury while BNP supports Manjur Alam.
THREE FINED
Mobile courts yesterday fined three persons, including a woman, for violating electoral code of conduct in Chittagong.
Hosne Ara Hasu, 40, wife of Manu Mian of Lake View Residential area, was fined Tk 50,000 for selling a bulletin containing news items against Mohiuddin Chowdhury in the city's Khulshi area.
Two other mobile courts in separate drives fined Jillur Rahman of Bandartila Tk 5,000 for distributing leaflets against Mohiuddin Chowdhury and councillor candidate Abul Mansur Ahmad of No 18 East Bakolia ward Tk 10,000 for using three microbuses in electioneering.