Chittagong-16 Constituency's Awami League candidate, Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, has surrendered to the court and secured bail in connection with allegations of violating the electoral code of conduct and assaulting a journalist.
Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Deb held the hearing on Wednesday, said the court's bench assistant Noor E Khoda.
According to court sources, Chittagong District Bar Association General Secretary SM Bazlur Rahman, representing the accused Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, dismissed the allegations as baseless during the hearing and sought bail under the bailable clause.
The accused pledged not to misuse the granted bail.
On the opposing side, Additional District Public Prosecutor Azharul Haque Chowdhury objected to the bail, expressing concern that granting it to the accused involved in assaulting the journalist could promote perpetrators of violence, potentially leading to obstacles in ensuring fair elections.
The court, after considering both arguments, granted bail to the accused until the next scheduled date of the case, as said by the counsel for the state.
During the court proceedings, Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury appeared with the support of numerous leaders and activists.
Following the hearing, activists surrounded him, escorted him from the court, and placed him in a car, with a police guard present.
The case, filed by Banskhali Upazila Election Officer Harun Molla on December 26, names Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury and 20-30 unnamed others as defendants under section 8 (b) of Candidates' Election Code of Conduct, 2008.
The court has directed Mustafizur to appear in person by January 3.
Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, nominated by the Awami League for the third consecutive time for Chittagong-16, previously won parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2018.
Accompanied by his followers, Mostafizur submitted his nomination form on November 30, 2023 to participate in the January 7 election. The candidate became agitated and pushed a reporter to the ground for asking a question about a violation of the electoral code of conduct.
Mostafizur also threatened Rakib Uddin, a reporter with Independent Television. At the time, the MP’s supporters attacked the group of journalists present and damaged their devices.
A written complaint was lodged with the local election inquiry committee in this regard.
On December 1, 2023, the candidate responded to the committee's show-cause notice regarding the violation of the electoral code of conduct and the reported incident of assaulting journalists.
A five-member delegation, including two lawyers representing Mostafizur, appeared before the committee chaired by Chittagong Joint District and Sessions Judge Abu Salem Mohammad Noman.
The delegation, led by Banshkhali Upazila Awami League General Secretary Prof Abdul Gafur, submitted a written response to the notice on behalf of Mostafizur.