The Election Commission has asked the returning officer to serve show cause notice to AL mayor candidate of Dhaka North City Corporation polls Atiqul Islam for violating the electoral code of conduct. “Returning officer of DNCC asked to serve show cause notice to him asking him to explain as to why he already started election campaigns,” election commissioner Rafiqul Islam told reporters at the Nirbachan Bhanaban in the capital’s Agargaon area on Sunday. Earlier, on January 4, BNP candidate Tabith Awal filed a complaint against Atiqul Islam for violating the electoral code of conduct.
According to the complaint, Atiqul Islam erected an 'election mancha' (stage) at Gulshan park along with his activists and supporters between 8am-9am at Gulshan-1 area under DNCC on Saturday. During the campaign, Atiqul used loud speaker seeking votes for him in the city polls, which is violation of the electoral code of conduct (City Corporation)-2016. “When we allocate polls symbols, only then the candidates can start campaigning. We will ask the returning officer of the polls to take action against whoever violate the electoral code of conduct,” Rafiqul Islam added.The commissioner said those who violates the code of conduct of the polls, the commission will take stern action as per the electoral laws.
“If anyone holds procession, blocks roads for the election campaigning, we will ask returning officer to take immediate action,” the commissioner said.
However, the election commissioner said that the EC will caution Atiqul Islam for not repeating such violation. AL lawmaker Advocate Sahara Khatun on Sunday inaugurated Atiqul’s election camp at Sector-4 in Uttara. The commissioner said lawmakers could not participate in the campaigning of the local government polls.
