PM orders ministers to follow code of conduct during city elections

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told members of her Cabinet to not fall foul of the election code of conduct, according to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

He told reporters about the prime minister’s order while visiting Arban Ali Road at Chittagong’s Anwara on Sunday.

“The prime minister ordered the members of the Cabinet to be careful about code of conduct during the upcoming city corporation polls,” Quader said.

Housing and Public Works Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing and State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury attended a meeting held at Hotel Peninsula in Chittagong on Mar 31.

The meeting discussed polls strategy though election law bans ministerial involvement in local government polls campaign.

Later, the EC wrote to the Speaker and Cabinet secretary Division to dissuade those getting facilities from the government from taking part in campaigns of local government elections.

The road transport ministry released a media statement that quoted Quader as saying on Sunday, “The government did not interfere in the last nine city corporation elections. 

“It won’t interfere this time too. The government is not going to shoulder the burden of any reproach.”

Quader also said the government will help the Election Commission play an independent and authoritative role.

Elections to Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation are scheduled on Apr 28.