Awami League-backed mayoral candidate in Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) election AJM Nasir Uddin chose not to address two meetings yesterday in order to avoid the risk of violating electoral code of conduct.
He was supposed to deliver speeches at the view-exchange meetings organised by Young Engineers Forum and Sitkaunda Samity at Engineers Institute and the nearby Ladies Club in the city respectively, but left both the venues without doing so.
Election Commission officials said other speakers at the meetings had sought votes for Nasir during their speeches which constituted violation of the code of conduct.
A team of five assistant returning officers and an executive magistrate arrived on the venues but Nasir left beforehand, said Assistant Returning Officer Shafiqur Rahman.
The officials seized banners and torn posters of the meetings which displayed Nasir’s photos. They also warned the fellow speakers against seeking votes for Nasir.
Shafiqur, in-charge of CCC poll media wing, said legal steps would be taken in this regard.
Nasir told the Dhaka Tribune that he did not attend either of the meetings.
Besides, the Election Commission on Sunday fined CCC councillor aspirant Shafiqul Islam Tk50,000 for violating code of conduct.
He violated electoral code of conduct by arranging Mezban at his Shahidnagar residence around 7pm, said Md Abdul Baten, returning officer of CCC election.
Mezban is a traditional function in the port city where people are invited and entertained.
“Assistant returning officers, led by an executive magistrate, went to Shafiqul’s house after receiving the information and foiled the programme. He was then fined.”