Ruling Awami League (AL) men allegedly continue violating the electoral code of conduct centring the municipality polls while apparently turning a deaf ear to the Election Commission's (EC) repeated directives.

Allegations include participation of AL lawmakers and a whip of parliament in election campaigns for mayoral candidates backed by the party, bringing out processions and pasting posters on walls, all violating the code formulated by the EC.

In Sherpur municipality yesterday, Whip and Sherpur-1 lawmaker Atiur Rahman led a procession on Victory Day with contestant Golam Mohammad Kibria next to him while leaders and activists chanted slogans seeking votes for "boat", reports a correspondent.

Atiur told The Daily Star that displaying the "boat" symbol was not a violation of the code since it symbolises Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina and December, the month of victory.

Returning Officer (RO) Anjan Chandra Paul said use of an electoral symbol in a Victory Day procession was "not expected" and that he would talk to the whip.

In Chatmohar municipality of Pabna on Monday, Pabna-3 lawmaker Mokbul Hossain campaigned for Shakhawat Hossain at a meeting AL Chatmohar upazila unit organised at the upazila Muktijoddha Sangshad where Mokbul was the chief guest, reports our correspondent.

Makbul asked the party men to work together for the "boat" symbol in the municipality election, meeting sources told The Daily Star. Shakhawat said Makbul had blessed him. Makbul denied conducting any campaign, claiming it was the AL unit's extended meeting.

The code bars ministers, lawmakers, whips and other VIPs from joining any electoral activity.

In Barguna municipality, aspirant Kamrul Ahsan brought out a procession with several hundred supporters on Tuesday night, halting vehicular movement on different streets of the city, reports a correspondent. Kamrul termed it a campaign, not a procession.

The code prohibits processions and public rallies. However, candidates can organise street rallies without halting public and vehicular movement.

In Chapainawabganj municipality, posters seeking votes for aspirant Samiul Haque Liton were found pasted on different wall, reports our correspondent. Pasting posters on wall or vehicles is prohibited by the code.

The EC issued show cause notices on December 6 to three AL MPs -- Safiqul Islam Shimul (Natore-2), MA Malek (Dhaka-20) and Shawkat Hasnur Rahman (Barguna-2) for similar violations.

All replied that they were sorry and pledged to refrain from violating the rules in the future.

In the last one week, the EC asked ROs of at least 18 municipalities to look into incidents of the code's violation by ministers, lawmakers and other AL men that were reported in different media.

The EC on December 6 sent separate letters to the Cabinet Division and Speaker of the parliament to keep vigil on ministers and lawmakers so that they do not take part in electoral activities.