Dhaka returning officers warn BNP chief over poll code ‘violation’

Dhaka’s returning officers have warned BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for creating ‘unwanted’ situation in city poll campaigns.

A letter in this regard was sent to the BNP chief on Saturday morning following directions from the Election Commission.
 
The EC asked the returning officers to take steps over Khaleda ‘violating’ poll code of conduct by using motorcade during campaign and hampering movement of people.
 
Khaleda took a break on Thursday after starting campaign for party-backed mayor candidates of the two city corporations in Dhaka on last Saturday.
 
There is no bar on the campaign by the former prime minister, as she holds no office of profit.
 
Pro-government Citizens Committee Member Secretary Golam Kuddus filed a complaint with the EC over her ‘violation’ of electoral code of conduct.
 
An officials of the Dhaka North Returning Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed’s office said the letter sent to the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters contained the details of Khaleda’s week-long campaign.
 
He said she was asked to stop violating the code of conduct and details of the aberration was mentioned in the letter.
 
It said movement of people was hampered when Khaleda campaigned with motorcade and some people accompanying her in the motorcade created ‘untoward’ situation.
 
The letter pointed that these activities were against the code of conduct and punishable.
 
Earlier, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy Hussein Muhammad Ershad was served a similar letter.
 
According to the Section 9 of the code, its violator can invite a jail term of six months or a fine up to Tk 50,000 or both.