Despite repeated warnings and actions by the Election Commission (EC), the violation of the electoral code of conduct in the run-up to the January 7 general election continues, with some heavyweight candidates and national figures in the polls campaign committing the offence.
The Election Inquiry Committee has served show cause notices to seven people, including State Minister for Disaster Management Dr Enamur Rahman in the Dhaka-19 constituency.
The six others are independent candidate and General Secretary of Ashulia thana Awami League Muhammad Saiful Islam, Pathalia Union Parishad Chairman Parvez Dewan, upazila Vice Chairman Yasmin Chowdhury Sumi, Savar municipality's Bhagalpur area residents Rocky, Tipu and Md Sayeed.
Savar Upazila Executive Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Ferdous Wahid said that the seven candidates will have to be present before the committee on Tuesday to provide written explanations.
Enamur Rahman has been show-caused for assaulting the supporters of independent candidate Saiful in the Thana Stand area last Wednesday.
The Election Inquiry Committee has recommended taking legal action against the Awami League nominated candidate for Comilla-6 constituency, AKM Bahauddin Bahar.
He was previously accused of threatening BNP and Jamaat men as well as attacking journalists.
At least three activists of an independent candidate in Comilla-7 constituency were injured in an alleged attack by a group of activists of the boat-symbol candidate.
The incident took place in Gazaria of Maijkhar union in Chandia upazila on Monday afternoon.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, who is running for the Kushtia-3 constituency, and his cousin Ataur Rahman Ata were served show-cause notices by the election investigation committee of Kushtia for exchanging views with teachers who had come to a government training programme.
The head of the committee, Joint District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Mazharul Islam, sent the notices on Sunday afternoon.
They were asked to appear in person on Tuesday.
On Sunday morning, Hanif addressed some 1,280 teachers who came to undergo training on the new curriculum at Kalkakoli Secondary School ground.
Former Bangladesh cricket captain and Awami League nominated candidate for Narail-2 constituency, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, was fined on Monday for violating the electoral code of conduct.
Executive Magistrate Md Anisur Rahman fined him Tk15,000 near the Hamid Mansion area of the city.
Anisur said that according to the electoral code of conduct, posters should be hung by rope. But Mashrafe’s posters were glued to the walls and electric poles. That is why Mashrafe was fined, along with three other candidates.
The EC on Monday served a warning on cricket superstar and Awami League candidate for Magura-1 constituency, Shakib Al Hasan.
A letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary Md Atiar Rahman was sent to him as a warning.
The letter stated that Shakib arrived at Magura from Dhaka on November 29. After a show of support in the Kamarkhali area, he entered Magura city with a convoy of vehicles and attended a reception there.
The incident disrupted public movements, which is a breach of the electoral code of conduct.
Meanwhile, BNM nominated candidate for Khulna- 6 constituency SM Newaz Morshed was also warned by the commission on charges of organizing a motor rally with thousands of motorbikes.
Bangladesh Congress candidate for Bogura-4 constituency Ashraful Alom, better known as Hero Alom, was attacked allegedly by some ruling party activists while he was campaigning in Kahaloo Bazar area of the upazila at around 7pm on Sunday.
The Awami League supporters also beat his supporters Morshedul Robi and Abdus Salam, alleged Hero Alom.
He said that he would submit a written complaint to the EC about the attack.
Earlier on Saturday evening, his election campaign came under attack and his mobile phone was snatched by Awami League supporters during the campaign in Muradpur Bazar area of Nandigram upazila.
Even though the local unit of the Awami League, terming it an isolated incident, said it will not take responsibility for the attack, the police identified one of the attackers.
In Tangail, three people, including a Jubo League leader, were injured allegedly when supporters of incumbent MP Sanowar Hossain opened fire during a procession held for the Awami League at Baghil union of Sadar upazila at around 11pm on Sunday.
One of them was in a critical condition.
Md Mamun-ur-Rashid, the Awami League candidate for Tangail-5 constituency, said his supporters brought out a procession in Baghil on Sunday night. At that time, the supporters of the current MP Sanowar Hossain (Eagle) opened fire on the procession.
The police detained two supporters of Sanowar and recovered two bullet casings from the spot.
In Faridpur, a mobile court fined two supporters of an independent candidate in Faridpur-2 (Saltha-Nagarkanda), Advocate Jamal Hossain Miah, for campaigning by using loudspeakers beyond the stipulated time in Saltha upazila on Sunday night.
Each of the men was fined Tk2,000.
In the Rajshahi-4 seat, independent candidate Enamul Haque has said he was attacked by supporters of the Awami League aspirant at Dwippur union of Bagmara upazila on Sunday night.
Two supporters of the independent candidate were injured.
The police detained two people over the incident, and additional forces were deployed in the area.
The electoral camp of Awami League candidate Barrister Nizam Uddin Jalil John in Naogaon-5 was vandalized and set on fire in the city's Kalitala area at around 11pm on Sunday.
John’s followers accused the activists of independent candidate Dewan Sekar Ahmed Shishan of the arson.
