EC to probe ‘participation’ of govt doctors, officials in Chittagong poll campaign

The Election Commission will probe the alleged participation of government doctors and nurses and Chittagong City Corporation employees in campaign for various candidates in the upcoming civic polls.

The commission on Friday sent letters to Chittagong Medical College’s principal and director of the hospital informing about the probe decision.
 
The letters, signed by Returning Officer Abdul Baten, said an interaction was held at the Shah Alam Birottom Auditorium of the medical college ‘in support of a mayoral aspirant’.
 
“Several doctors, nurses, officials and employees of your institution attended that meeting. The media have reported it and Election Commission inspectors also have the similar information,” letters read.
 
Referring to the electoral code of conduct, the commission said no government officials or employees could take part in campaign for any candidate.
 
Assistant Returning Official Shafiqur Rahman told bdnews24.com the commission had assigned an officer to find out which doctors, nurses, officials and employees had taken part in the meeting.
 
“The CMC principal and CMCH director have been asked to provide a list of those who attended the meeting. Actions will be taken against the participants after investigation,” he said.
 
Several doctor leaders and teachers of the college, nurses and staff of the hospital had attended the meeting organised in support of Awami League-endorsed mayor runner AJM Nasir Uddin.
 
The returning officer sent another letter to the Chittagong City Corporation chief executive officer stating that several officials and employees of the corporation were involved in campaigning for several candidates.
 
It said the officials and employees were urging their colleagues to join the campaign for the candidates of their choices.  
The commission asked the chief executive officer to take actions against them after investigation.