A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a writ petition against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad for using political banners for campaigning in the maiden Gazipur City Corporation elections. Legally political banners are not allowed for local elections.
Yunus Ali Akand, a lawyer known for his pro-active role in such matter, filed the writ with the concerned branch of Supreme Court on Wednesday morning.
The first ever city poll of Gazipur is scheduled to be held on Jul 6.
Besides pleading for a rule, the petition also sought a stay order on the election and its results until disposition of the petition
The writ sought why the election will not be ruled illegal and beyond the authority of law.
It alleged that Chief Election Commissioner has failed to stop partisan city polls wherein the local elections should have been free, fair, acceptable and beyond political influence.
The writ sought ruling why the defendants’ activities would not be declared illegal because they were campaigning under banners of Awami League and BNP.
The writ was filed against Chief Election Commissioner, Local government Secretary, Gazipur City Corporation, BNP supported candidate MA Mannan, Awami League-backed candidate Azmat Ullah, Mayoral candidate Jahangir Alam, Awami League leader, BNP Chairperson and Jatiya Party Chairman.
It said that the CEC failed o hold a free, transparent, acceptable, neutral and non-political Gazipur local election and that both parties violated constitutional responsibilities and election code of conducts.
“Two political parties nominated their candidates. There MPs and senior leaders of both parties are campaigning. They are supplying several poll materials to the aspirants. Intervention of these two parties in local polls are a cause of concern to the people.”
“But, this election aims to elect people’s representative at local level.”
Earlier, Yunus Ali had filed a writ challenging the legality of City Corporation polls in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet which were held on Jun 15. That petition was filed against CEC, Local government Secretary, the four City Corporations and the eight Mayoral candidates supported by the two main political parties.
Yunus said that he had tried to file the petition in several courts, but none were ‘interested’ to take it up.
In answer to a question, the lawyer said that the High Court was very powerful. “It does not matter if elections are done or results are out. If the High Court wants, they can cancel everything.”
Source: Bd news24
