Petrobangla chief refutes allegations of breach in RCC
Singer and lawmaker Momtaz seeks votes at Ward No 4 of Rajshahi City Corporation yesterday for ruling Awami League-led 14-party backed mayor candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. Photo: Star
The Petrobangla chief and another government official yesterday responded to the election office's show cause notices, denying the allegations of campaigning for the Awami League-backed mayor candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.
Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Mansur said the inauguration of gas distribution in Rajshahi city Friday was part of government's regular development activities. It was to begin much before the city corporation polls, but was delayed for bureaucratic tangles, he added.
Pashchimanchol Gas Company Ltd (PGCL) General Manager Rezaul Islam Khan also submitted his reply refuting the same allegation.
On Friday, PGCL started providing gas connections to consumers in the city for the first time.
The next day, BNP-backed mayor candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul complained that Liton used his "local power" to have gas distribution inaugurated to influence the election, which was a violation of electoral laws. He also alleged that the two government officials violated the electoral laws by "taking part in the campaign for Liton".
Returning Officer Shubhash Chandra Sarker served three notices on the two officials and Liton asking them to explain the allegations.
The notice said Liton's election committee chief and lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha attended the gas inauguration programme, while Liton's posters and banners were hung around the inauguration venue.
In his reply Sunday, Liton said the gas inauguration was government's regular development work, and it was not of the city corporation. He also said Badsha attended the programme as lawmaker not as his election agent.
Sarker said they would add comments on the replies and send those to the Election Commission for final decision.
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