The first day of sales of Awami League nomination papers for the upcoming 11th general election brought chaos to the streets of Dhanmondi on Friday, amid claims that ruling party candidates have already violated the electoral code of conduct.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader inaugurated the sale of the forms at the political office of party chief Sheikh Hasina at around 10am on Friday.
The ruling party has raised the price of nomination papers for this election, from Tk25,000 to Tk30,000.
Obaidul Quader along with Awami League religious affair secretary Sheikh Abdullah purchased forms on behalf of Hasina for Gopalganj 3 and Rangpur 6 constituencies.
Awami League office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap informed that around 1,328 aspirants collected nomination forms on the first day of their sale.
Among them, five aspirants have already submitted their nomination papers, Golap added.
The nomination seekers included Nazmul Huda, a former leader of Trinamul BNP, who sent a representative to collect his nomination paper on Friday evening.
There was also a representative present for Syed Ashraful Islam, the Awami League former general secretary and public administration minister who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and is in a “grave” condition.
Commuters suffering
Thousands of Awami League supporters and activists from across the country started thronging the Dhanmondi area from Friday morning, blocking the adjacent roads.
They reached the party office to collect the nomination papers through colourful rallies carrying banners, festoons and musical instruments.
No public or private vehicles could reach their destinations as thousands of buses, trucks, microbuses and motorcycles were parked on Satmasjid Road, causing huge traffic congestion.
“Awami League is a big party and a huge gathering of people is also normal,” Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said.
“I believed that thousands of people would gather. We need Paltan Maidan or Suhrawardy Udyan for this work.”
The process was lengthened as some aspirants failed to bring a photocopy of their national identity cards and two passport-sized photographs along with them to collect nomination papers.
“Some works relating to nomination papers distribution will be carried out at Awami League central office in Gulistan to ease the suffering of party activists and the public,” Quader said.
Other ruling party hopefuls seen in Dhanmondi on Friday were Presidium member Mohammad Nasim, Organizing Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, and State Minister for Ministry of Post, Telecommunications & Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
Electoral code ‘violated’
Awami League aspirants appeared to have violated the electoral code of conduct on Friday by bringing out processions blockading roads and by using buses and other vehicles to bring people to Dhaka from across the country.
With the election schedule now known, the electoral code puts a number of restrictions into effect until the polls result is declared through the publication of an official gazette sometime after December 23.
During this period, all processions using trucks, buses and motorcycles are banned, except those for heads of parties.
No campaigning document or distribution of leaflets, carrying banners or any such thing meant for campaigning is allowed, and campaign activities cannot obstruct roads.
Meetings will require prior approval from the authorities concerned, and police have to be notified at least 24 hours before meetings.
Violations of the code of conduct may result in maximum six months imprisonment, a Tk50,000 fine, or both.
