Violation of electoral code galore in Ctg

With little regards to electoral code of conduct, supporters of two candidates have plastered posters and banners of two candidates on walls of Chattogram city, while gateways were seen erected in favour of another candidate.

Visiting Chattogram College Road yesterday, posters of Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, who is contesting the national polls from Chattogram-9, were seen pasted on different walls.

A banner of BNP candidate from the same constituency Shahadat Hossain, city unit president of the party who is currently in jail, was also seen pasted in Bou Bazar area of Bakalia on Wednesday.

Shamim Ahmed, president of Ward-19 unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, sought votes for Shahadat in the banner. Posters of Mohibul were also seen pasted on the same wall. 

Meanwhile, at least five temporary gateways, with banners of Awami League candidate MA Latif of Chattogram-11 constituency were seen on Wednesday from Barek Building intersection to Fakirhat area on Wednesday.

According to Clause 7 of electoral code of conduct for political parties and candidates, no candidate or anyone on their behalf can paste posters, leaflets or handbills on buildings, walls, fences, trees, electric or telephones poles within city corporation or municipality areas.

Clause 10 says no political party, candidate or anyone on their behalf can erect gates and archways, or create obstruction to movement.

Contacted, Latif said he heard about it and rushed to the area yesterday but found no such gateways. Asked who built those gates seen the previous day, Latif said he had no idea about it.

Jahirul Alam Dobhash, member secretary of AL Election Management Committee for Chattogram-9, told The Daily Star that they instructed all leaders, activists and supporters not to paste posters or handbills on walls.

“If you see any poster pasted in any wall anywhere, it is definitely the work of overenthusiastic activists,” he said, adding, “I am looking into the matter and would ask them to remove those.”

A gate with campaign banner of Awami League candidate Abdul Latif (Chattogram-11) and a replica of the party's symbol “boat” was erected in Sagarika area, while a banner of BNP's Dr Shahadat Hossain (Chattogram-9), was pasted on a wall in Bakalia. Both are violations of electoral code of conduct. The photos were taken on Wednesday. Photo: Collected

Contacted, Advocate Badrul Anwar, chief coordinator of BNP Election Management Committee for Chattogram-9, said they strictly instructed all activists not to paste any posters or banners on wall. “Someone might have pasted the banner out of over-enthusiasm,” he said, adding, “I asked them to remove it.”

Chattogram District Election Officer Munir Hossain Khan said pasting posters or handbill on the wall is a violation of the code of conduct  and it is a punishable offence.

Contacted yesterday, Abdul Mannan, returning officer of constituencies under the city, said he was in Dhaka and would be returning to Chattogram today. “Some 18 magistrates are working in the city to monitor if the electoral code is being followed. I will get updates from them tomorrow (today),” he said.