Dhaka South mayor candidate Khokon uses PM’s photo in banner, violates polls code

Sayeed Khokon, the Awami League-backed mayor candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation, has flouted the electoral code of conduct using Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s image in an election banner.

He sought the people’s mandate in a rally at Sabujbagh on Monday.

A banner with pictures of Awami League President Hasina and Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was put up in the background of the rally stage.

Polls code prohibits using symbols of political parties or pictures of political personalities in posters and banners other than photos of the candidates or their electoral symbols.

The local government polls are usually considered non-partisan but political parties endorse candidates.

Dhaka South’s Assistant Returning Officer Md Rashid Mia said no-one lodged complaints against Khokon for using the prime minister’s image in the banner.

“The returning officer will look into the code violation [if anyone complains],” he told bdnews24.com.

Earlier in the day, Awami League-endorsed Dhaka North mayor candidate Annisul Huq apparently fell foul of the code by holding an election rally at a community centre.

His supporters shouted slogans in Hasina’s name.

But Huq claimed the “road rally” did not violate the code.

Khokon, son of former mayor Mohammad Hanif, used Bangabandhu and Hasina’s images in billboards before the polls schedule was announced.

He had pulled them down at the Election Commission’s order.

The BNP claims the EC has failed to create a ‘level playing field’ in the city polls.

Khokon used the prime minister’s name in his speech but the code does not allow using names of political personalities in campaigns for local government office.

“Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina loves me a lot,” he said.

“If I would approach her for any development work in the locality, she would not turn me down,” Khokon said, apparently trying to woo votes.

He also mentioned that local MP Saber Hossain Chowdhury had built a flyover in Khilgaon.

Chowdhury, too, sought votes for the party-endorsed candidate in the programme.

Khokon in his election manifesto said he would make Dhaka a “clean and digital mega city”.

He said he would make dynamic the city corporation’s services for the residents.

“The services provided by the city corporation have somewhat slowed down. I’ll revive them if elected,” Khokon added.