Sircar among 13 candidates warned
The Election Commission (EC) has warned Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and 12 other parliamentary contenders for violation of electoral code of conduct in their electioneering.
The commission will take actions as per law if they violate the code of conduct further, EC sources said yesterday.
The 12 others include Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Secretary General Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan, and five from BNP and two from Awami League.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda talked to Sircar, who is BNP-led four-party candidate, over telephone and asked him to abide by the electoral code of conduct. And the EC Secretariat sent written warning to others through the returning officers concerned.
Asked whether the speaker violated the code of conduct by engaging his official staffs in uniform in an election rally on Sunday in his constituency in Panchagarh, the CEC said he violated the code. It was however a minor violation.
Huda replied in the negative when asked if the EC would warn him in writing for the violation. He warned the speaker verbally, he said.
In response to a letter, the EC had earlier informed the speaker that he could not use his official vehicle and enjoy protocol during election campaign. But the speaker ignored the EC's advice.
Two parliament officials in uniform, who usually stand behind the speaker's chair when the House is in session, were found standing on two corners of the stage at Sircar's campaign rally at Tunirhat in Panchagarh on Sunday.
These officials were never found with the speaker in any programmes outside parliament even in the capital.
Earlier, Sircar had allegedly used the government circuit house at Panchagarh while submitting nomination papers.
PDP candidate M Delwar Hossain made written complaint to the CEC and the returning officer concerned about Sircar using the circuit house for electioneering.
He also complained that while conducting election campaign the speaker used official staffs and vehicle.
Later, Sircar stopped using the circuit house.
Meanwhile, a notice in this regard was served yesterday on Sircar and two other candidates for Panchagarh-1 by the Joint District Judge of Panchagarh AkM Enamul Karim, who is also the electoral enquiry committee officer.
BNP candidates who have been warned are Sujat Mia for Habiganj-1, Abu Lais Mubin Chowhdury for Habiganj-3, SM Foysal for Habiganj-4, Abdul Gafur for Rajshahi-4 and Harun-ur- Rashid for Chapainawabganj-3. The AL nominees are Enamul Haque for Rajshahi- 4 and Shahriar Alam for Rajshahi-6.
Besides, two independent candidates -- Sardar Amjad Hossain for Rajshahi-4 and Nur Hossain for Jessore-1 have been warned.
Abdul Mannan violated the code of conduct by using helicopter in polls campaign, and the others either pasted posters on walls or brought out processions with motorcycles or set up more than one election camp in a union.
MOBILE PHONE NETWORK
Talking to reporters yesterday evening at the EC Secretariat, the CEC said he thinks mobile phone network should operate also on the polling day.
“If the network remains in operation, it will be easy for us to communicate with the polling personnel,” he said.
Huda however said there are differences of opinion in this regard among political parties, the home ministry and intelligence agencies. “We will take a decision on it by December 27.”
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