Returnees in polls campaign!

Relatives, activists and supporters of councillor candidates contesting in Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) election have been participating in campaigns, defying instruction of home quarantine imposed by government in a bid to contain a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country.

District administration sources said at least 1,000 expatriates, most of whom arrived from Middle East in March, are leading or participating in social gatherings and rallies in 41 wards encompassing an area of around 155 sqkm to woo voters on behalf of their respective leaders.

The Daily Star learned that at least four siblings of Abu Saleh Chowhdury, Awami League nominated councillor candidate from ward-41 came from USA in two groups on March 5 and March 15. They have been campaigning for Abu for the last two weeks.

Though they were supposed to be in home quarantine, they were seen every day at the campaign since their arrival in the city. Among the USA returnees, Didar and Rony were seen going door to door of the electorate, sparking fear among voters.

Abu Saleh Chowdhury claimed to The Daily Star that one sibling, Rony, returned long before the coronavirus outbreak and four other relatives came from USA on March 5 and March 15 respectively.

He said they were thoroughly examined at Shah Amanat airport.

Asked why they are leading campaigns when they were supposed to be in home quarantine, he said his campaign was "toned down" considering the situation.

"They [returnee relatives] do not have the virus, so they partially attended the campaign," he added.

Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, civil surgeon of Chattogram told The Daily Star he is really worried that overseas returnees are taking part in election campaigning.

"It is a suicidal decision to make them part of an election campaign. This will ruin all our steps taken to contain the possible outbreak of coronavirus," he said.

Mobile courts have fined eight expats for not maintaining home quarantine properly, while  at least 97 people have been asked to stay in home quarantine.

Touhidul Islam, another executive magistrate (AC Land), who is overseeing the quarantine situation at Soraipara, Dewanhat and Monsurabad, told The Daily Star that some returnees are giving false information about the date of their arrival home.

A district administration mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Galib Chowdhury was conducting a drive at Abu's house at the time of filing this report at 9pm yesterday.