Slip of tongue!

Awami League lawmaker Omor Faruk Chowdhury of Rajshahi-1 threatened that anyone working and speaking against the party's boat symbol in Kolma Union Parishad elections would not be allowed to stay there.

He issued the threat while addressing a discussion on Jail Killing Day in Tanore's Dorgadanga School and College ground on Wednesday.

"Circulate these words in every village that those who would speak and work against boat would have no place on the soil of Kolma," he was heard speaking in a video footage, which went viral in the last two days.

He also asked the party men to ensure this.

In the video clip, the lawmaker of Godagari-Tanore constituency was seen addressing a huge public gathering.

Omor Faruk sought votes in favour of the AL-nominated chairman candidate, promised development work and threatened the party's rebel candidate with bad consequences and asked him to refrain from participating in the Kolma union polls, scheduled to be held on November 11.

Such activities of a lawmaker are prohibited in the Electoral Code of Conduct, said local election officials, preferring anonymity.

Contacted, Omor Faruk told The Daily Star that his speech that violated the Electoral Code of Conduct was a "slip of tongue".

"I was speaking on the Jail Killing Day, but there is an election in the area. People wanted to know from me whether I was favouring the Awami League-nominated candidate or not. I was replying to people and these words slipped through my tongue," he said.

"If I cannot speak my mind a little bit at public meetings, it would become difficult for me to do politics," the lawmaker said.

Mainul Islam has got AL nomination for the chairman post of Kolma union elections.

Khademun Nabi Chowdhury, former AL president of the union unit, is contesting the polls as a rebel candidate as he failed to secure the party ticket.

The lawmaker also said, "I want to know from him [Nabi Chowdhury] through you [people] what will happen to him after the elections."

After this, Nabi Chowdhury filed a complaint with the returning officer on Thursday and sought security for participating in the polls.

About the threats, Omor Faruk said he did not issue threats with anyone's life during his speech.

"All I meant that anyone will be defeated in the election, people will reject them and our party will never allow them to return to the party."

Contacted, Shamimul Islam, the returning officer, said he received the complaints and forwarded it to the executive magistrate for investigating the incident and taking action.

He said he was not aware of any action against the lawmaker till yesterday.