EC makes no move over breach of code in Gazipur city polls

The Election Commission or EC has left allegations of repeated electoral code violations by candidates and their campaigners unaddressed as Gazipur city corporation goes to polls on Tuesday.

Ruling Awami League leaders have been spotted campaigning for the party’s mayoral aspirant in Gazipur City Corporation elections, two days ahead of the balloting.

Mohibul Hassan Nowfel, Central Organising Secretary of Awami League, and Atiqul Islam , former BGMEA president, attended a news conference arranged for party candidate Zahangir Alam  on Sunday noon during a ban on outsiders.

Also, Talukdar Abdul Khalek, the recently elected mayor of Khulna City Corporation, did some electioneering for Zahangir.

On June 22, the EC asked outsiders to leave the Gazipur City Corporation area within Saturday midnight for the election to be held in a free and fair atmosphere.

Fearing about the credible election, the BNP has also questioned about Gazipur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Harun-ur-Rasheed’s role.

Saturday midnight was the deadline for the election canvassing to end.

“Outsiders required to leave the area within the stipulated time is a decision of the EC to ensure law and order, which is issued by the ministry," EC's Deputy Secretary Md Farhad Hossain told bdnews24.com.

“The situation in Gazipur is very good. If it was bad, we would have got the news,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday.

Returning Officer Md Rakib Uddin Mondol did not respond to the phone calls and texts from bdnews24.com for comments.

 “The returning officer is the only officially designated person to speak on the issue," Md Tarifuzzaman, assistant returning officer, told bdnews24.com.

Asked about electioneering by the outsiders, EC Commissioner Rafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com in the afternoon, “Now the question is who are campaigning for them; we need to think about whom we shall call outsiders. Changes will be made in the future, if required.”