AL, JP candidates violating polls code in Rangpur, but EC silent: BNP

The BNP has alleged the mayoral candidates of the Awami League and its ally Jatiya Party in Rangpur city polls are breaching the electoral code of conduct, but the Election Commission is taking no action against them.

Speaking at a programme in Dhaka on Friday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also claimed a conspiracy was afoot to keep the BNP candidate away from the election.

Swadhinata Forum organised the programme to celebrate the 85th birthday of pro-BNP professionals’ leader and former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahamed at his house in Elephant Road.

“The candidates of the ruling party and its ally are repeatedly violating the code but the Election Commission has remained silent,” Rizvi said.

Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhontu is running for re-election as the Awami League’s mayoral candidate in the Rangpur City Corporation polls slated for Dec 21.

The Jatiya Party, which sits in the opposition bench in parliament despite having ministers in the government, has nominated its Rangpur unit chief Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa to run for mayor's office. 

Rangpur City BNP Vice-President Kawsar Zaman Babla is fighting in the election as the party candidate.

Rizvi alleged the government was trying to drive Babla out of the race by ‘using administrative machinery’ and ‘slapping cases against him’.

The central leader of the BNP noted that the High Court recently dropped a writ petition of the Sonali Bank from its schedule, which called for the cancellation of Babla’s nomination for alleged loan default.

“They (local administration) are passing laws one after another, slapping fines and other punishments to stop those campaigning for our candidate. I strongly condemn these,” Rizvi said.

BNP National Standing Committee Member Jamiruddin Sircar, among others, was also present at the programme where an 85-pound cake was cut to celebrate the birthday of Prof Emajuddin.  

Prof Emajuddin was born in 1932 in undivided Bengal’s Maldaha. His family later moved to Rajshahi. He is currently working as the VC of the privately run University of Development Alternative.

The former Dhaka University VC said Bangladesh snatched victory in the Liberation War on Dec 16, 1971, but ‘the dreams and demands of the people have not been fulfilled yet’.

He advised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to ‘hurt anyone’s feelings’.