EC warns BNP for violating electoral code of conduct
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday said BNP has violated the electoral code of conduct for the ninth parliamentary election by turning the reception accorded to party chief on November 7 in Chittagong into an electoral showdown.
Directed by EC, its secretariat yesterday sent a letter to BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and reminded him that the event was a violation of electoral code of conduct.
It also requested BNP to abide by the code of conduct to maintain atmosphere conducive to holding the upcoming parliamentary polls, sources in the EC Secretariat said.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia visited Chittagong on November 7. As she arrived in the city some party leaders seeking nominations joined her motorcade with their supporters at different junctions.
Traffic in the entire area around the rally venue came to a standstill, as the attenders spilled over on to the streets from the vast field. Several groups of honking motorcyclists were disrupting traffic on the city streets since morning as it turned into a city of processions and slogans.
The electoral code of conduct issued by EC on September 18 imposes restrictions on motorcade or pasting colourful posters regarding election on walls.
Besides, according to the code of conduct, any registered political party or a candidate nominated by the party or any independent candidate or any person on behalf of them cannot organise any election campaign before the last three weeks preceding the election date.
For violation of the code of conduct, EC may fine a political party or even cancel candidature of a candidate.
In the letter sent to the BNP secretary general, EC said a reception was accorded to Khaleda with motorcade rally and severe traffic congestion disrupted city life, resulting in sufferings to commuters.
Besides, colourful posters of the party's aspirant candidates were pasted on the walls, it continued.
"The reception was actually turned into a showdown, violating the electoral code of conduct," said a source quoting the letter.
The EC last week also said the AL has violated the electoral code of conduct as its supporters pasted posters on windowpanes of vehicles and brought out a procession holding AL's election symbol "Boat" in the welcoming reception of Sheikh Hasina on November 5.
It said the reception turned into an election campaign, which was also violation of the code of conduct.
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