The Election Commission last night directed the returning officers of six municipality polls to investigate the allegations of violating electoral code of conduct by a minister and some lawmakers.

"We have noticed some media reports that said a minister and some lawmakers joined electoral campaigns in the last couple of days, including on Victory Day. We have asked returning officers to look into the matter," EC's Secretary Sirazul Islam told The Daily Star.

"As the returning officers are responsible for conducting the polls, we have already directed them to take action if such allegations of rules violation are found to be true," the secretary told The Daily Star.

Breaching electoral rules, a minister and MPs on Wednesday in municipalities joined electoral campaigns in the name of Victory Day celebrations, according to media reports.  

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and AL-nominated mayoral aspirant in Sirajganj municipality delivered speeches at a Victory Day rally in the district headquarters which turned into a campaign procession for “boat”, the electoral symbol of the Awami League, according to media reports. 

The whip and lawmaker of Sherpur-1 constituency, Atiur Rahman, Rajshahi-4 lawmaker Enamul Haque, and Mymensingh-9 lawmaker Anwarul Abedin Khan also sought vote for “boat” in Victory Day programmes in their areas, media reports said.

As per electoral code of conduct, ministers and MPs are not allowed to join any sort of electoral activities in this election.

Talking to The Daily Star, a number of senior officials at the EC Secretariat said action should be taken against the violators, whoever they are, to ensure fair polls.

"If the minister and lawmakers go unchallenged, it would encourage other lawmakers to violate the electoral rules," said a deputy secretary of the EC Secretariat.

The EC in the last one week asked returning officers of at least 35 municipalities, including the six last night, to look into different alleged incidents of violations of electoral laws reported by the media.

The EC did not get any response from the returning officers as of yesterday, said EC's secretary Sirazul Islam.

The EC on December 6 issued show-cause notices on three AL MPs -- Safiqul Islam Shimul (Natore-2), MA Malek (Dhaka-20) and Shawkat Hasnur Rahman (Barguna-2) in connection with violations of electoral code of conduct.

In response, all of them apologised and pledged not break the rules again.

The EC yesterday asked police to withdraw the officers-in-charge of Kulaura of Moulvibazar, and Kalkini of Madaripur in connection with favouring AL-nominated mayor aspirant there.

Meanwhile, ruling AL men allegedly continued to violate electoral rules in different municipalities.

An AL lawmaker of Shariatpur-2 constituency and former deputy speaker of parliament yesterday alleged that the AL rebel candidate in Naria municipality of Shariatpur was using muscle power and was continuously violating the electoral code.

Talking to reporters at the EC Secretary, he feared that if things went on like this, the situation would soon destabilise.

In Sreepur municipality of Gazipur, AL-nominated mayor candidate Anisur Rahman brought out a motorcade with around 50 motorbikes as part of his campaign violating the electoral law, reports our correspondent there. 

Anisur Rahman could not be contacted over phone for comments.

In Ujirpur and Muladi municipalities of Barisal, BNP-nominated mayor candidates Shahidul Islam Khan and Asad Mahmud alleged that AL men had torn off their campaign posters and banners over the last two days, reports our correspondent.

Returning officer of Baraigram municipality of Natore yesterday fined AL-nominated mayor aspirant Abdul Barek Tk 10,000 for violating electoral code of conduct, reports our correspondent.

As per electoral rules, a candidate is allowed to set up one electoral camp in an area that had at least 20,000 voters. Barek had set up multiple camps.

In Savar, an assistant returning officer (ARO) had been using a car of the municipality which had been handed over to him without due procedures.

The ARO had formally asked for a car from the municipality but the request was denied.

However, acting mayor of the municipality and also a councillor candidate informally handed over a sport utility vehicle and the ARO had been using it since December 4.

A number of councillor candidates alleged that the acting mayor gave the car to get favours in the election.