The ruling Awami League on Thursday told the Election Commission that the BNP candidates were getting ‘advantage’ while its mayoral candidates were being ‘treated without any mercy’.
A party delegation led by Joint General Secretary Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif met the chief election commissioner and lodged the complaint.
“Returning officers are harassing the Awami League candidates and activists in several districts,” Hanif told reporters after the meeting.
Hanif also said that the Election Commission was being ‘too kind’ to BNP, and added, “We want the EC to be impartial.”
MPs and ministers are barred from campaigning for their party candidates according to the electoral rules.
However, senior BNP leaders are being able to campaign as their party boycotted the 2014 general election.
Hanif said this situation was upsetting a level-playing field.
Hanif did say that the law and order situation was good in the run-up to the polls.
Asking the EC not to take any steps before investigating allegations of the violation of electoral code of conduct, Hanif said, “The MPs are not violating the code. The EC can take strict measures after probing allegations.”
“But how does it constitute violation when a minister meets people after coming out from the mosque? The EC can take steps if he campaigns for somebody,” Hanif added.
Source: Ittefaq
