Irregularities done by AL chief: Fakhrul

The BNP has blamed the Awami League chief for irregularities by nominating more than one candidate for a mayor post in the upcoming municipal election.

Sheikh Hasina, who is authorised to nominate mayoral candidates on behalf of the party, sent letters to election office mentioning more than one candidate in several municipalities, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

“We have information about at least four such cases. The municipalities are: Shariatpur Sadar, Betagi in Barguna, Paikgachha in Khulna and Magura Sadar.”

“There could be more,” the BNP leader said at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan.

As per the rule, a registered political party will be allowed to nominate single candidate for mayoral post in each municipality. If a party nominates multiple mayoral candidates in any municipality, all of their candidacies will be cancelled.

But the returning officers are not doing so, which is illegal, Fakhrul said.

He also alleged that many ruling lawmakers and candidates have already started electioneering, defying electoral code of conduct. But no legal action has been taken against them, he added.