Almost all the candidates for both mayoral and ward councillor posts in the two city corporation elections in capital Dhaka are allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct continuously.
Allegations of violation of the code are being raised by each candidate against the other.
Candidates from both BNP and ruling Awami League are also filing complaints with the Election Commission continuously. But there was no instance of punitive measures so far.
According to the EC officials, most among the allegations are over attacks on supporters of rival candidates as well as threats to one another.
Besides, allegations of campaigning by lawmakers in favour of different candidates now appear to be one of the major issues.
On the other hand, candidates and their activists are carrying out campaign with loudspeakers, are bringing out processions and pasting posters showing disregard to the electoral rules.
They are holding rallies, blocking roads and causing sufferings to pedestrians in addition to setting up makeshift campaign centres on the roads and roadsides.
One of the candidates of the BNP, contesting for Ward-20 as Councillor, stormed into the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital with a procession on January 14 causing sufferings to hundreds of patients.
Many of the patients and their relatives expressed anger over such nonsensical attitude of the candidates.
Moreover, many of the candidates have raised allegations of tearing down their posters and banners by the opponents.
Mohammad Akhteruzzaman alias Ayatullah, a mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) alleged that many of his posters and banners were torn down by the opponents at different places.
He also said that complaints had already been filed with the EC authorities, but no measures were taken.
When contacted, Abdul Baten, a Returning Officer (RO) of DSCC, claimed that they were monitoring the issues and that the process for taking punitive measures against those violating the electoral rules are on.
“The EC is warning them not to break electoral rules for the first time,” he said.
The elections in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 129 of their Wards will be held together on January 30. Of them, there are 75 general Wards in the DSCC and 25 reserved seats for women while 54 general Wards in the DNCC with 18 reserved seats.
Seven Mayoral candidates for DSCC are Fazle Nur Taposh from Awami League, Ishraque Hossain from BNP, Mohammad Saifuddin Ahmed Milon from Jatiya Party, Md Abdur Rahman from Islami Andolan, Bahran-e-Sultan Bahar from NPP, Md Akteruzzaman alias Ayatullah from Bangladesh Congress and Abdus Samad Sujon from Gono Front, while six Mayoral candidates for DNCC are incumbent DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam from Awami League, Tabith Awal from BNP, Sajedul Huq from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Shahin Khan from PDP, Fazle Bari Masud from Islami Andolan and Anisur Rahman Dewan from NPP.
According to the EC, there are around 54 lakh voters in the two city corporations. Of them, 30.36 lakh under 54 wards in DNCC and 23.67 lakh under 75 wards in DSCC. In the upcoming elections, the number of possible polling stations will be 2,500 in the two corporations.
