Misconduct their code

In violation of electoral code, ruling Awami League's mayor candidates staged showdowns, brought out processions and motorcades at many places yesterday, even before submitting nomination papers to contest the upcoming municipal polls.

Moreover, local AL lawmakers in some districts accompanied their party aspirants to the office of the Returning Officers for filing the nomination papers, ignoring the code of conduct that bars MPs from joining any electoral activities.

BNP-nominated mayoral aspirants, on the other hand, submitted their nomination papers silently at most places.

Many councillor aspirants from both parties also breached the election law by staging showdowns and holding processions, report our district correspondents.

Under the law, showdowns and processions are completely prohibited while going to submit nomination papers. Besides, candidates cannot go to the RO's office with more than five persons for submission of nomination papers. The code also bars use of any government facilities for election activities.

Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam said they were yet to receive any allegation of code violation. "We will take action if such allegations are found true."

Polls to 235 municipalities will be held on December 30, marking the start of the country's first local government polls on party lines. Independent candidates are also eligible to run.

At Dhamrai municipality in Dhaka, local lawmaker MA Malek along with several hundred party activists and leaders brought out a procession in favour of AL-nominated mayor candidate Golam Kabir Mollah.

Witnesses said Golam Kabir Mollah went to the upazila complex around 11:00am with hundreds of his supporters and waited there till 2:00pm for the MP who later joined them.

Hasina Dowla, administrator of Dhaka Zila Parishad, the woman in glasses, and Parvej Dewan, panel chairman of Savar Upazila Parishad, on her right, accompany Awami League's mayor candidate Abdul Goni, on her left, during a campaign for the upcoming Savar municipality election, when Goni visits the Upazila Parishad to submit the application of candidature yesterday. The two officials used government vehicles, inset, when accompanying Goni, violating the electoral code of conduct that carries a fine of Tk 50,000 or a six-month's jail term or both and can lead to the cancellation of candidacy. Photo: Rashad Ahamad

The MP, however, denied the allegation, saying he went to the upazila office for work, not for electioneering.

In Savar, AL mayor hopeful Abdul Goni staged a showdown and brought out a procession before submitting nomination papers around 12:00noon.

Dhaka Zila Parishad Administrator Hasina Dowla and Savar upazila Panel Chairman Parvej Dewan joined the procession with their office cars.

Asked about the violation, Hasina said, "I did not know the rules properly. When the returning officer told me about the rules, I immediately left the place."

In Sadar municipality of Natore, AL candidate Uma Chowdhury came to the RO's office with a procession of around 200 party leaders and activists led by local MP Shafiqul Islam Shimul around 1:00pm

In Narail Sadar, the AL backed mayoral aspirant Jahangir Biswas staged a motorcycle showdown on his way to submit the nomination paper, reports a correspondent.

In Tarabo municipality of Narayanganj, AL candidate Hasina Gazi went to the RO's office to submit the nomination paper with a motorcade of over 150 buses and microbuses and over 50 motorbikes around 12:00noon.

 But Hasina denied the allegation of violating rules, saying people came on their own to show their support.    

Such violation by AL men also took place at Golapganj, Kanaipur and Jakiganj of Sylhet; Harinakunda and Shailkupa of Jhenidah; Sadar and Madhobdi of Narsingdi; Sreepur of Gazipur; eight municipalities in Tangai; and Sadar and Mirkadim municipalities in Munshiganj.

BNP mayor candidates staged showdowns at Jakiganj in Sylhet and three municipalities of Narsingdi.  

For both the parties, however, rebel candidates will pose a big challenge.

Many rebel candidates from the AL and the BNP submitted nomination papers for mayor posts yesterday, the last day for submission.

The Daily Star contacted AL and BNP leaders in around 200 municipalities across the country yesterday and found that the AL has 116 rebel candidates and the BNP has 54 in some 90 municipalities.

Top leaders of both parties, however, hope that the rebels will pull out.

The AL has already warned of tough organisational actions against party dissidents, including expulsion.

The ruling party yesterday formally unveiled its candidate list at a press conference at the party president's Dhanmondi office.

"If anyone violates the party decision, he will have to face maximum punishment, I mean expulsion," said Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AL joint general secretary, at the press conference.

A BNP leader, who is a member of the party's nomination board, said they would try to convince party dissidents to support to party-backed candidates. "At some places, we have fielded some dummy candidates as part of our electoral strategy."