The Election Commission (EC) is taking tougher action against candidates and their supporters for violation of the electoral code of conduct even though the national parliamentary polls is scheduled to be held tomorrow (Sunday).
The commission has taken action against 50 candidates, activists, and supporters just two days ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections slated for January 7, 2024.
The EC on Thursday, just two days before the election, directed upazila election officers to file 42 cases against 50 people, which includes four Awami League candidates, according to the EC’s legal wing.
Important people including, candidates from different political parties and independent candidates, are among them. Before this, nine more cases were filed against the candidates and their supporters in different parts of the country on the instructions of the EC. The commission has filed 51 cases so far.
In the latest development, the Election Commission has ordered the authorities concerned to file a case against Awami League candidate for Satkhira-1 constituency Feroz Ahmed Swapan.
The EC has directed the Kalaroa Upazila Election Officer to file a case against the candidate. Abdus Salam, deputy secretary of the EC’s legal branch, sent the instructions on Friday (January 5, 2024).
It was mentioned that the Awami League candidate in Satkhira-1 constituency Feroz Ahmed Swapan told his leaders and workers that on the election day of January 7, voters of any party other than Awami League will not go to the polling centers.
The EC has also ordered to filing of a case against Bhandaria upazila Chairman Mirazul Islam Miraj in the Pirojpur-2 constituency.
The Bhandaria Upazila Election Officer was directed to file the case against Miraz as a plaintiff on Thursday with the concerned police station.
In the letter, the Election Commission stated that on December 24, Mirazul Islam Miraj made objectionable, obscene, indecent, and provocative speech in the presence of independent candidate Mohiuddin Maharaj of the Pirojpur-2 constituency.
As a result, the relevant Election Inquiry Committee submitted a report to the Election Commission stating that the person had violated the RPO and Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, as per Thursday’s data from EC’s legal branch, the Awami League candidates facing legal action are Abul Kalam Azad from Rajshahi-4, Morshed Alam from Noakhali-2, Mostafizur Rahman from Chattogram-16, and Abdul Hai from Jhenaidah-1.
The remaining accused include Jatiya Party candidate Md Murad Ali from Magura-2 and independent candidates such as Golam Mahfuz Chowdhury from Joypurhat-2, Md Ali Aslam from Thakurgaon-2, Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan from Noakhali-2, Jannatul Ferdous Ara from Netrokona-1, and Abdul Mannan from Meherpur-1.
The rest of the accused individuals are activists and supporters of the candidates.
This recent directive brings the total number of cases instructed by the Election Commission to over 52, involving over 60 people, all charged with violating the election code of conduct.
Before Thursday’s directive, the commission had previously instructed officials to file cases against Awami League candidates Abdul Hye from Jhenaidah-1 and Mostafizur Rahman from Chattogram-16.
Voting for the 12th national election is scheduled to take place from 8 am to 4 pm tomorrow (Sunday). A total of 1,970 candidates, representing 28 political parties and independents, will be contesting in the election.
The Election Commission has taken action based on the inquiry reports submitted by the election inquiry committees. The ‘Election Inquiry Committee’ was formed by the EC in 300 constituencies to deal with pre-election irregularities. The enquiry committees are active in the field across the country.
There is an inquiry committee in each constituency consisting of judicial magistrates. The election enquiry committees began their activities on November 18.
In the last one and half months, the election inquiry committees issued over 500 show-cause notices to many candidates for violating the election code of conduct.
