The returning officer for the upcoming Chittagong city polls yesterday cautioned mayoral candidates AJM Nasir Uddin and Solaiman Alam Seth and five councillor aspirants for violating election code of conduct.
A few days ago, Nasir attended a programme titled Amra Sandwipbasee (we the residents of Sandwip) at the Matribhumi Community Centre in the port city.
According to CCC polls Returning Officer Md Abdul Baten, Awami League-backed candidate Nasir gave an election speech in that programme which was a violation of the code of conduct.
The returning officer also said that they had found in investigation that Jatiya Party-backed Solaiman Alam Seth breached the code of conduct by setting up campaign offices and sticking posters.
On March 30, mayor hopefuls Nasir, Solaiman and BNP-backed M Manjur Alam and 17 councillor aspirants were show-caused for violating the code.
Apart from Manjur, all the other 19 respondents have filed written replies to the notices with the returning officer, explaining their conducts.
Baten said they are now conducting further investigation after analysing the replies.
According to the electoral code of conduct, city polls hopefuls can start campaigning only after the deadline for withdrawing nomination papers expires on April 9.
CMP Commissioner
The CCC election office is also closely monitoring the activities of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Abdul Jalil Mandal.
Towards the end of last month, the CMP boss told a gathering that the people of the port city should not elect anybody as their mayor for whom police will have to take to the streets again.
Since taking over as the boss of the port city’s police at the end of last year, Jalil has gained popularity by conducting activities outside his policing jobs. Using his force, he had cleaned up city streets, drains, cleared footpaths and water bodies of encroachment, and so on.
Soon after Jalil delivered the speech, Manjur Alam – the incumbent mayor who recently resigned to take part in the upcoming polls – lodged a complaint with the EC.
Baten told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they found in investigation that the CMP boss’s speech was neither intentional nor motivated.
“However, we are keeping him under close watch. If he fails to maintain his neutrality, we will request the Election Commission to replace him,” the returning officer said.
Contacted last evening, Jalil told the Dhaka Tribune: “Some media interpreted my speech incorrectly. I did not say that to demean anyone. Nor was it in favour or against anyone.”
When told that the returning office might request the EC to replace him if he makes similar remarks in future, Jail did not make any comments.
