Campaigns wrapped in pollution
Defying the ban on using plastic for election campaigns, candidates have put up a huge number of laminated and polythene-coated posters in different areas across the capital ahead of the national polls.
Environmentalists opined that the usage of such plastic materials is posing a serious threat to the environment, while candidates and their supporters have claimed they are using these to protect posters from being ruined by dense fog.
Such posters can be seen across Dhaka city, displaying faces and electoral symbols of candidates, mostly of Awami League, and some from other smaller parties or independents.
During a recent visit to areas that fall under Dhaka 6, 7, and 10 constituencies, plastic-coated posters of the respective ruling party nominees for those constituencies, Sayeed Khokon, Mohammad Solaiman Salim, and actor Ferdous Ahmed, were seen.
The same was the case for Dhaka-8 and 9 as well. Meanwhile, other political party candidates like SM Sarwar of Bangladesh Islami Front, a candidate from Dhaka-8, were also seen using laminated posters.
According to a study by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), Dhaka produces over 10,000 tonnes of laminated plastic waste annually.
The study, titled "Thermal Lamination Films: An Insight into Health and Environment Havoc in Dhaka City", revealed that candidates in the 2020 mayoral election used approximately 340 million plastic and laminated posters.
"We conducted our study before the Dhaka City Corporation election in 2020. Now the national election is on the way, and the usage of plastics could be doubled in this year's campaign. I think the Election Commission should include the ban in their electoral code of conduct," Dr Shahriar Hossain, secretary general of ESDO, told The Daily Star.
On December 25, the EC imposed a ban on the use of laminated or polythene-wrapped posters for the January 7 polls. However, the ban is not included in the electoral code of conduct.
In the circular, the EC also asked all returning officers to ensure that laminated or polythene-wrapped posters were not used, to make the polls eco-friendly.
In 2020, a court order prohibited the creation and use of polythene-coated posters for city elections, but it seems the candidates are disregarding the directive.
However, Ferdous defended the act saying it was done to save the posters from fog, while Khokon and Selim were positive about taking the posters down.
Ferdous said, "The posters have been laminated so that they do not get damaged in the fog. As far as I know, this is not a violation of the electoral code of conduct."
"I am not aware whether it was prohibited. If it's there in the law, I will ask my supporters to bring down all laminated and polythene-coated posters," said Khokon, while Solaiman Salim claimed some of his over-enthusiastic supporters might have put up the posters and that he had already removed those after it was brought to his notice.
Alamgir Kabir, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said, "Those who are participating in this election are the future lawmakers. But these would-be lawmakers are now violating the law in their [own] campaign."
Contacted, Sabirul Islam, RO of Dhaka city's constituencies said, "Whenevr we hear about such use of plastic, we take action to remove those."
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