Khulna city polls: AL, BNP trade allegations of misinformation in election affidavit

BNP nominated mayoral candidate for the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election, Nazrul Islam Manju has submitted a written complaint to the returning officer against Awami League candidate Talukdar Abdul Khalek. Nazrul filed the complaint on Monday, alleging that the ruling party backed aspirant concealed information in his election affidavit. Senior district selection officer and assistant returning officer accepted the complaint. The complaint read: “Talukdar Abdul Khalek is the vice president of South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank Ltd’s Board of Directors. He also holds top positions in North Western University and Eastern Polymer. “Khalek earns a lot of money from these business ventures, but he concealed his income and loan details in his election affidavit. The nomination paper does not even mention his voter number.” It further added: “Section 12 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Election Rules, 2010, clearly states that candidates must submit affidavit with their nomination papers, and concealing or submitting incorrect information in the affidavit would result in cancellation of the nomination paper.” Nazrul, in his complaint, urged the authorities to take necessary action against Khalek, and recommended that the Awami League candidate’s nomination paper be cancelled.

Awami League’s counter allegation

Meanwhile, central Awami League leader SM Kamal has alleged that BNP-backed aspirant Nazrul Islam has given false information in his election affidavit for the KCC polls. He made the comment while addressing a workers’ meeting organized by the Khulna Sadar Thana Awami League on Monday. Kamal claimed that Manju showed his yearly income to be Taka 200,000. Posing a series of inquiries, Kamal said: “How does Manju bear the costs of owning a Jeep and paying the driver’s salary? How does he bear the day-to-day expenses of his family? “After the mayoral tenure of Talukdar Abdul Khalek ended, the KCC had Taka 700 crore in its funds. There were no developments activities in Khulna over the past five years. So, where did the money go?” Kamal also accused Manju of engaging in extortion and defrauding the Khulna city dwellers with misinformation in his electoral affidavit. He later added: “Talukdar Abdul Khalek must get elected as the KCC mayor to continue the trend of development started by Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”