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Published : 16 Dec 2025, 01:41 PM
Supporters of several political leaders have been accused of breaching the electoral code of conduct by chanting slogans and displaying campaign material while paying tribute at Savar's National Martyrs’ Memorial on Victory Day.
The incidents occurred just days after the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election and a referendum, and issued instructions to halt early election campaigning.
On Tuesday, thousands of people arrived at the Savar memorial in groups under the banners of various BNP-affiliated organisations from the Savar and Ashulia areas. Witnesses said slogans in the names of political leaders were repeatedly chanted.
Several thousand supporters of Dewan Mohammad Salauddin, the BNP-nominated candidate for the Dhaka-19 (Savar–Ashulia) constituency, were seen carrying banners bearing the slogan “Vote for the paddy sheaf”, the party’s election symbol. Many also wore caps printed with the candidate’s name.
Asked about the slogans, one supporter said they had gathered to support their leader following his nomination.
Supporters of another BNP aspirant in the same constituency, Mohammad Ayub Khan, were also seen chanting slogans as they moved towards the memorial.
Outside the memorial’s boundary wall, a group of around 100 young men were heard chanting pro-National Citizen Party (NCP) slogans. When the party’s central leaders later arrived, they entered the memorial together to pay tribute.
A large procession by the Dhaka District unit of Swechchhasebak Dal, the BNP's volunteer wing, was also observed, with banners and festoons bearing the name of a local leader.
Some visitors expressed frustration at the political displays.
Lamisha Zaman, a history student at Jahangirnagar University, said the atmosphere made it difficult for ordinary citizens to pay their respects.
“Most political parties don’t even have the basic sense to take off their shoes and lay flowers properly,” she said, adding that students were unable to place flowers because of the crowd and the chanting.
The EC announced the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election and referendum on Dec 11 and later instructed returning officers to ensure that early campaigning was stopped.
Political campaigning will be allowed only after election symbols are allocated, from Jan 22 until 48 hours before polling day.
Election rules allow political parties to take part in national, religious and social events outside the campaign period, as long as they do not seek votes and have prior approval from the local returning officer.
