Contrasting actions in Sylhet

While going easy on the ruling party-backed mayoral candidate, the Sylhet city administration has been strict against the opposition alliance-backed mayor aspirant about enforcing electoral code of conduct.
On Tuesday, ruling Awami League-backed candidate Badar Uddin Kamran continued his electoral rallies at different parts of the city until around 11:00pm, which is a clear violation of the electoral code that states loudspeakers can only be used from 2:00pm to 9:00pm.
Locals said an election rally at a vegetable market in Rikabibazar had begun around 5:00pm and continued until about 11:00pm.
The preparation for the rally had forced over 50 vegetable vendors to move their makeshift shops elsewhere early that morning.
Kamran and Awami League lawmakers Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury and Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, and sadar upazila chairman Ashfaq Ahmed, among others, attended Tuesday's meeting around 10:15pm.
Showing excuse for that, Mahmud Us Samad said, "As we had many speakers that night [Tuesday], the rally had to be prolonged by half an hour."
Contacted, Returning Officer SM Ezharul Haque, also the regional election officer in Sylhet, said: "We received no complaint about violating the time limit on loudspeaker use in the Rikabibazar rally. If we had received any complaint, we would have taken steps about it."
Preferring anonymity, several vendors of the market, located in front of the Sylhet District Police Lines, said ruling party men had barred them from opening their shops early on Tuesday saying that Kamran would hold a rally there.
The very night, around 9:00pm, Kamran had held another rally in Sheikhghat area, said locals.
Meanwhile, Abul Kaher Shamim, chief election agent of opposition alliance-backed Ariful Haque Chowdhury, said: "Magistrates accompanied by police and Rab [Rapid Action Battalion] have been dispersing our rally just at 9:00pm."
Mayor of Bhairab municipality Mohammad Shahin, who has been campaigning for Ariful, said: "Last Thursday, Rab and police personnel reached our rally spot at Jitumiarpoint in Sheikhghat area around 9:00pm and made us dismiss the gathering and leave immediately."
Betel leaf vendor Mohammad Khokon of Sheikhghat area, who was present in Ariful's rally on Thursday, said Rab had dispersed the people although several speakers were still to address.
Meanwhile, the office of the returning officer has served notices on Kamran and Ariful asking them not to hold their concluding grand rallies today.
Additional Commissioner SM Rokon Uddin of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said Kamran had sought permission for holding his concluding rally at Registry Maidan while Arif at Court Point, but none of them had been given permission.