Ruling Awami League leaders defy EC rules for Gazipur city polls

A ruling Awami League leader has come under massive criticism after being spotted campaigning for his party’s mayoral aspirant in Gazipur City Corporation elections.

Gazipur CorrespondentStaff and bdnews24.com
Published : 24 June 2018, 05:24 PM
Updated : 25 June 2018, 03:33 PM

Mohibul Hassan Nowfel, Central Organising Secretary of Awami League, 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 Election Commission issued directives asking outsiders to leave the Gazipur City Corporation area within Saturday midnight for the election to be held in a free and fair atmosphere.

When Nowfel was asked about the electoral conduct of conduct in the media call,  he said "I am not aware about such directive. Can you show it? "

When a local journalist showed a copy of the EC's code of conduct on his mobile phone,  Nowfel said, “I came from Dhaka a little earlier. I have not come here for campaigning. I have come to exchange views on your request."

A journalist said, "We did not call you. You called us for covering your press conference. "

In reply, Nowfel said, “We knew we will be allowed to campaign until 12am on June 24. I did not know about this directive of the Election Commission. "

Then he abruptly left the news conference .

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

He was not found at his office around 4pm, either.

 “Returning officer is officially designated to talk about this only," Md Tarifuzzaman, assistant returning officer, told bdnews24.com.