UZ Polls Campaign In Barisal

20 January 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Several candidates for upazila election have alleged violation of Election Code of Conduct by Barisal City Corporation (BCC) mayor and AL lawmakers in different areas of Barisal division. BCC Mayor Shawkat Hossian Harion is taking part in election campaign in favour of upazila chairman candidate Awami League leader Monirul Islam Sabi, politicising the non-party upazila election, said Azijul Haq Akkas, president of Kotowali unit of BNP and upazila chairman candidate for Sadar upazila parishad. At a huge election campaign meeting at Patuakhali Shahid Alauddin Shishu Park on Sunday, Mayor Hiron and AL lawmaker from Patuakhali-1Shahjahan called upon the audience to vote for AL leader Khan Musharraf Hossain, candidate for Patuakhali Sadar upazila chairmanship, and declared expulsion of AL leader Sultan Mridha, a 'rebel' candidate. Accusing the BCC mayor and the lawmaker of violating polls code, Sultan Mridha said they have no authority to expel him from the party. Morinul Islam Moni, AL lawmaker from Barisal-2 constituency, participated in campaign in favour of AL leader Syed Mainul Huq for Uzirpur upazila chairman post. District JSD leader Abul Kalam Azad Badal, also candidate for upazila chairmanship in Uzirpur, filed allegation with election office against MP Moni for violating polls code and creating pressure upon the minority community people to vote for AL leader Mainul. Major (retd) Jasim Uddin, local AL lawmaker for Bhola-4, took part in the election campaign in Lalmohan upazila, supporting chairman candidate AL leader Giasuddin. He also declared expulsion of upazila AL president Principal Nazrul Islam from the party, terming him as a 'rebel'. Nazrul at a press conference protested violation of election code and interference in non-party local government election by of the AL lawmaker. When asked about these allegations, Manirul Islam Khan, deputy election commissioner in charge of Barisal division, told The Daily Star that allegations about violation of election code would be forwarded to the authorities concerned. He, however, said no one filed any formal allegation with his office.