Violence, violation of polls code rising

With the municipal polls drawing nearer, incidents of violence and violation of electoral code of conduct by mayoral hopefuls are on the rise, raising concern among the voters.

The Daily Star yesterday learnt about at least two incidents of violence in Jessore and Bhola, and some allegations of electoral rule breaches in Laxmipur and Sylhet.

Besides, an Election Commission (EC) mobile court yesterday fined the Awami League-backed mayor aspirants in two Natore municipalities different amounts for violation of electoral code.

On Thursday, the EC had served a show cause notice to Kamrul Ahsan Moharaj, AL mayor candidate in Barguna Sadar municipality.

In the notice, Moharaj was asked to explain his “involvement” in a recent attack on a meeting of present mayor Mohammad Sahadat, who is the AL rebel candidate in the municipality.

Meanwhile, on a weekly holiday yesterday, the mayor and councillor aspirants braved chilling cold, dense fog and drizzle, and continued their campaign in full swing.

The electioneering kicked off even before sunrise and continued till late evening in Thakurgaon, Habiganj, Rajshahi, Comilla and Mymensingh, report our correspondents there.

JESSORE

In Jessore Sadar municipality,  ruling AL men allegedly swooped on Bilkis Maruf, wife of Maruful Islam, the BNP-nominated mayor candidate and the current mayor of the municipality.

The incident happened when Bilkis was running election campaign on behalf of her husband in Jessore town Thursday night, reports our correspondent.

Earlier, AL rebel mayor aspirant Kamruzzaman Chunnu, also a former mayor of Jessore municipality, alleged that supporters of AL mayor candidate attacked his men recently.

BHOLA

In Bhola, the house of BNP-backed mayor candidate Moniruzzaman Kabir in Borhanuddin municipality was vandalised by miscreants on Thursday night.

At least two people were reportedly injured in the incident.

Moniruzzaman made the allegation at a press conference at his house yesterday morning.

He said a group of miscreants stormed his house around 11:30pm Thursday and vandalised the windows and lights with iron rods. During the attack, a piece of a broken glass hit and cut one eye of his wife Ayesha Siddiqua.

LAXMIPUR

In Ramgati municipality of Laxmipur, ruling AL men yesterday alleged that Jatiya Party MP Mohammad Noman carried out electioneering in favour of his party candidate Azad Uddin Chowdhury.

Noman, however, refused the allegation, saying he was well aware of the electoral code of conduct.

Supporters of AL mayor candidate Mezbahuddin Mezu barred the lawmaker while he was going to the party office at the Alexander Bazar in Ramgati municipality. They also asked the MP to leave the area, reports a correspondent. 

Noman went to the local police station straight from there.

SYLHET

In Golapganj municipality in Sylhet, current mayor and AL candidate Zakaria Ahmed Poplu yesterday allegedly carried out election campaign, using a truck owned by the municipality, said witnesses.

Golam Kibria Chowdhury, BNP mayoral hopeful in the municipality, made the same allegation.

NATORE

A mobile court of the EC yesterday fined Ruksana Murtaza Lili, AL mayor candidate in Gopalpur municipality of Natore, Tk 20,000 after local MP Abdul Quddus reportedly accompanied her in her electioneering.

In another incident, Abdul Barek, AL mayoral aspirant in Baraigram municipality, was fined Tk 30,000 as he brought out a motor cycle rally during his electioneering.

On Thursday, the EC fined him a penalty of Tk 10,000 as he set up an additional number of election camps in his municipality area.

Breaching electoral rules, a minister and MPs on Wednesday joined electoral campaigns in some municipalities in the name of Victory Day celebrations, 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 sought vote for AL-backed candidates at Victory Day programmes in their areas, media reports said.

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

The municipal elections are slated for December 30.