Awami League nominated Kamalganj upazila parishad chairman candidate, Md Rafiqur Rahman, has brought allegations against local MP Md Abdus Shahid, of violating the electoral code of conduct.
Rafiqur, also a member of the central Awami League, made these allegations in a written statement at a press briefing held at his home in Nasratpur in Kamalganj, on Friday.
According to Rafiqur, Shahid - six times nominated MP from Awami League for Moulvibazar 4 constituency - has gone against his party's interests by campaigning for his younger brother Imtiaz Ahmed Bulbul, who is competing against Rafiqur in the upazila elections.
"I am competing for the chairman post in the upazila election, slated to be held on March 18, after getting nominated from Awami League," he said at the press briefing. "However, Md Abdus Shahid's younger brother, Imtiaz Ahmed Bulbul, is competing against me with another party's symbol.
"Shahid has been campaigning on behalf of his brother, using government protocol to appear at various government and private ceremonies," Rafiqur said. "He is trying to lure voters into voting for his brother with promises of various development projects."
Rafiqur said Shahid has been violating the electoral code of conduct and working against his own party by calling upon party leaders and activists to take a stand against the Awami League.
"The fact that Shahid is engaging in different campaigning activities for his brother, from his own locality, is a sheer violation of his code of conduct as an MP as well," he said.
Written complaints have been sent on the matter to the returning officer and district election officer, Rafiqur added.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Shahid denied the allegations.
Over a phone conversation with this correspondent, Shahid said: "Even when I was present during different government meetings and ceremonies, I never campaigned for my brother. Besides, I never pressured any chairmen or members regarding election matters.
"It is only normal that, as an MP, after coming to my own locality, chairman and union parishad members will come to visit me on different issues," he said.
He said, since he is not residing in his locality at the moment, there is no way he can campaign for his brother.
On the contrary, Shahid accused Rafiqur of working against the Awami League.
"Starting from the district administration to detective agencies, everyone knows how Rafiqur went against his party during the December 30 polls," he said. "However, I never raised any complaints against that."
