Shahjadpur officer-in-charge in Sirajganj district has been closed owing to have failed to take action against a ruling party MP and the AL-backed mayor candidate for violating code of conduct of the upcoming municipal polls.
As per the order from the Election Commission, local police authorities closed OC Rezaul Hoque to police lines there around 10pm Monday.
Sirajganj Superintendent of Police Md Miraz Uddin Ahmed confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune, telling he assigned the police station's Sub-inspector Munir Hossain to the vacant post.
Sources said Shahjadpur upazila unit AL on December 5 gave a warm reception to local MP Hasibur Rahman Swapan through a rally held on Shahjadpur Pilot School field, where the lawmaker joined with a motorcade and sought vote for AL-backed mayor aspirant Halimul Hoque Mirol.
For seven days after December 21, about seven election offices and loudspeakers of BNP-backed and independent candidates were vandalised allegedly by the supporters of the AL candidate. Even, one election office was set afire. Finally on December 26, several crude bomb blasts were reported on five spots in the municipality area, leaving five people including two BNP activists injured.
In the incidents, the victims submitted complainant to the returning officer who afterwards directed the OC to take necessary action in this regard.
Finally, OC Rezaul Hoque did not take any measures to the concern despite repeated knocking from the EC authorities.
When contacted, closed OC Rezaul Hoque said: “Shahjadpur Returning Officer-cum-District Election Officer Abdur Rahim does not stay in the municipal area and he discharges his duties coming from the district town and that is why lack of coordination appeared between he and the police administration. He (Abdur Rahim) has implicated me intentionally because of protesting his role.”
On the contrary, Abdur Rahim denied the accusation hurled against him and said he maintained good relation with the OC.
