City election campaign closure marred by code violations

Amid debates, assurances, and accusations over Election Commission’s ‘lax’ stance on code of conduct violations, the last two days of campaign saw outright disregard for rules by candidates of the three city corporations.

With returning officers mostly busy rebutting accusations with issuing warnings to candidates, Saturday and Sunday saw candidates take out rallies with motorcades, blocking streets and using numerous loudspeakers.

On Saturday, ruling Awami League-endorsed mayor runner for Dhaka South City Sayeed Khokon took out a procession with a large motorcade.

A day later, the party-backed aspirant for Dhaka North City, Annisul Huq, capped his campaigns with a similar show.

Councillor candidates were not far behind in taking out processions in Dhaka on Sunday with motorcades blocking streets and hampering traffic.

They also used loudspeakers everywhere and these are all prohibited in the code of conduct.

The mayor hopefuls in Chittagong did not parade down the streets, but councillor candidates took out processions.

A large rally of ruling Awami League-backed Dhaka North City mayor candidate Annisul Huq took place in Mohakhali Wireless Gate area in the afternoon.

Supporters sought votes for Annisul running with the symbol ‘table clock’. They also campaigned for ruling party-backed councillor aspirant Mohammad Aslam.

The street from Mohakhali’s Amtoli to Gulshan saw a serious gridlock due to the rally.

Earlier, Huq took out a procession of 15-20 cars at Mohakhali. It went to Uttara through Mirpur and Bhashantek.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni and Huq’s chief election coordinator Faruk Khan were in the procession.

A police microbus escorted the procession with the two former ministers.

Police vehicles were ahead and behind Dhaka South mayor candidate Sayeed Khokon’s motorcade with over 100 cars and motorbikes on Saturday.

Ruling Awami League is supporting Khokon.

Ganasanghati Andolan’s Zonayed Saki marched with over 50 supporters at Mohammadpur around 1pm. There were several mikes in the procession.

Islami Shashantantra Andolan-endorsed Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Bari Masud’s motorcade on Gulshan Avenue in the afternoon included five to six pick-up vans.

Supporters of councillor aspirants also took out separate processions.

Supporters in processions of BNP-backed mayor candidates Mirza Abbas of Dhaka South and Tabith Awal of Dhaka North shouted slogans and the name of the party and its chief Khaleda Zia in violation of the code of conduct.

Returning officers earlier warned Khaleda over campaigning with motorcade.

In Chittagong, BNP-backed M Manjur Alam’s campaigners were attacked.

CPB-backed Kafi Ratan of Dhaka North also alleged attack on his supporters.

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh’s Mahi B Chowdhury was also attacked in the wee hours of Sunday, the last day of campaign for Tuesday’s vote.

Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz said they will conduct surveillance to check illegal campaign.

EC officials said the candidates will have to refrain from any type of campaign after Sunday midnight such as soliciting votes going to houses and advertising in media.

Campaigning even before the announcement of the schedules was widely criticised. Many of them removed posters and banners after the EC issued warnings.

Md Shah Alam, Mihir Sarwar Morshed and Abdul Baten are the returning officers of Dhaka North, South and Chittagong, respectively.