Local admin steps in

Local administration officials had to pull down campaign materials in several places across the country yesterday as many parliamentary aspirants didn't remove their posters and banners within the Sunday deadline.

The Election Commission had directed all political parties and aspirants to bring down their campaign materials by November 18.

But district administrations and city corporations had to conduct drives led by executive magistrates to rid roadsides, walls and electric poles of the materials in many places.

Quoting officials, the EC yesterday said 90 percent of the campaign materials had been removed.

"We have once again directed divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and chief executive officers of city corporations and other local government bodies today [yesterday] to remove the electoral campaign materials. They will take action against political parties and candidates who had not removed those," said EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) started removing posters, banners and festoons since yesterday morning.

Led by DSCC Executive Magistrate Masud Rana, the drive was conducted in Suritola, English Road, Purana Paltan, Khilgaon, and Motijheel areas.

All employees concerned were asked to remove the materials as per the EC directives, an official said.

The DSCC would continue the drive and had requested ward councillors for assistance.

In Chittagong, posters of Awami League leader and parliamentary hopeful Syed Mahmudul Haque was seen on the south gate of MA Aziz Stadium.

Another AL aspirant Helal Uddin's posters were also there.

Banners of AL aspirants were seen on the walls of Railway hospital and Railway Building areas yesterday.

Contacted, Munir Hossain Khan, Chattogram district election officer, said mobile courts led by 16 executive magistrates had conducted drives across the city.

“As far as I know, electoral campaign posters and banners have been removed in 95 percent of the areas,” he said.

Except Godagari upazila, most of the campaign materials were removed on time in Rajshahi.

At Kamarpara market, posters of AL aspirants Motiur Rahman and Tajibul Islam were seen at 3:00pm yesterday.

"Most of the aspirants paid heed to our call and cleaned up the materials. We had engaged workers to remove the remaining ones," said Kader, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi.

He said no punitive action was taken against anyone.

“If any campaign material still remains, our mobile courts will launch drives and take legal action,” he added.

In Dinajpur, our correspondent found many posters of Ahmed Sharif Rubel, a JP aspirant.

Some posters of Communist Party of Bangladesh aspirants were found at Kalitola area of the district. A big signboard of Sweschchasebak League also remained there.

In Barishal, Executive Magistrate Mozzeml Haque Chowdhury said about 50 billboards had been removed in a drive in several areas. No one was penalised though.

The Khulna City Corporation removed most of the banners, posters and other campaign materials from the city by Sunday. The remaining materials were removed by 10 executive magistrates yesterday, said Palash Kanti Bala, chief executive officer of the corporation.

Only a few torn banners were seen yesterday.

There were similar pictures in Bogra, Mymensingh, Narayanganj and Kurigram.