BNP municipal election candidates in Sirajganj and Natore have accused their rivals and local Awami League members of obstructing their campaigns.
BNP-backed candidate in Sirajganj’s Shahjadpur municipality Nazrul Islam claimed that Awami League-backed candidate Halimul Haque Miru’s brothers Pintu and Azad hired henchmen to vandalise election camps in Dargapara and Aagbari-Parkola on December 21 and 24 respectively.
He said he had contested three elections in the past but never saw such terror acts.
“Upazila administration officials are aware of what happened. I lodged four complaints with the returning officer but no action was taken. If such terror acts continue, I am worried about how fair and neutral the December 30 elections will be,” said Nazrul.
But Miru and his two brothers denied the allegations, describing those as propaganda against the Awami League.
They said support for their party is overwhelming and the rival candidates are resorting to smear campaigns after sensing unavoidable defeat in the polls.
Shahjadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Shamim Alam said the upazila election officer and the returning officer deal with the allegations about elections. “But still the upazila administration will hold a meeting with three mayor candidates to discuss these issues.”
Shahjadpur municipality Returning Officer Abdur Rahim said a number of allegations had been raised against the mayor candidates and also the local lawmaker, and several of these people had already been warned and served show-cause notices.
“The recipients offered apologies in their replies. We have looked into the allegations and sent a report to the Election Commission. What can we do if people continue to act in violation of the rules? We did our best. Border Guard Bangladesh members, if deployed, will take stern actions against these acts,” he added.
Also, in Natore, mayor aspirants fielded by the BNP in different municipal areas claimed that their rivals had got in the way of conductive effective campaigns.
Nazrul Islam Molum, the BNP-backed mayor candidate for Gopalpur municipality in Lalpur upazila, said local Awami League members encircled him for an hour to obstruct his movement during electioneering in Kosebpur area yesterday.
He said the returning officer, with the help of law enforcement officials, later rescued him.
BNP-nominated mayor contestant for Singra municipality Shamim Al Razi alleged that his rival Zannatul Ferdous, who is contesting the elections on the Awami League ticket, had violated the electoral code of conduct.
“Ferdous’ supporters have obstructed my campaigns. I have arranged several press briefings and raised allegations but no step has yet been taken by officials concerned.”
The returning officer, Ashraful Alam, said mobile courts had already fined some candidates for violating the electoral code of conduct.
BNP-backed mayor candidate Isahaq Ali of Baraigram municipality claimed that Awami League members had burnt his election posters on Friday. “I informed the returning officer of the incident and the ruling party members were later warned not to do this again.”
Moshiur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Natore, said law enforcement agencies had taken preparations to ensure that elections were held in a free and fair manner.