Jan 26, 2020
Students and others were holding leaflets at Awami League mayor candidate Atiqul Islam`s rally on a playground of Kalachandpur Government Primary School on Saturday. Photo: Sajid Hossain
Elections in Bangladesh are inevitably festive ahead of the polls.However, there is an electoral code of conduct to ensure the electioneering does not exceed the limits.
Unfortunately, the candidates and their supporters for the elections in two Dhaka city corporations are not bothered with the electoral code of conduct.
The city residents are disturbed by the loud noise of candidates seeking votes through loudspeakers on rickshaws, cycle-vans, auto-rickshaws and trucks.
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) candidates and their guardians are particularly concerned. These loudspeakers are not sparing even prayer houses, hospitals and schools.
The electioneering and campaign songs have been blaring over loudspeakers in 15 places of Dhaka north and south city corporations since Saturday morning.
Such noisy campaign continued in Motijheel, Paltan and Bijoynagar of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and also in Mohammadpur, Kalyanpur and Shyamoli of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
The electioneering in favour of Dhaka north Awami League mayor candidate Atiqul Islam and local councilors was conducted from a stage set on a playground of Kalachandpur Government Primary School and Kalachandpur High School and College since the morning.
Most of the classes were dismissed after 10am.
Young students in their school uniforms were seen dancing with the songs. Students and others were holding leaflets of Atiqul Islam who was not present there.
School authorities said nobody took the permission for the election rally. They held a meeting on the SSC examination at the teachers’ room on the second floor at 11am on Saturday. But they could hardly hear over the loud music of the election campaign.
Two students of Class VII and IX said they were given leave around 10:30am after just three classes due to the election campaign.
According to the electoral code of conduct, a candidate or his supporter cannot use more than one microphone or loudspeaker in a street rally or election campaign in a ward.
The use of microphone and loudspeaker is suspended before 2pm and after 8pm.
People involved in electioneering said recorded songs and campaign have been hired by the candidates.
As they are paid per hour, they keep the loudspeakers on all the time. They also said they are not instructed to suspend the use of this sound device near educational institutions, prayer houses and hospitals.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, a resident of Mirpur-2 Borobagh area, Nurul Haque, said his daughter Nusrat Haque’s SSC exam will begin on 3 February. The examination had already been deferred for the voting. Her preparation for exam is now being hampered due to the loud noise of the electioneering.
He said the campaign continues from morning to late night.
Code of conduct violated power display
As per code of conduct, rallies and processions cannot be organised ahead of the election. Police have to be informed about the venue and time 24 hours in advance if anyone wants to organise a street rally or indoor meeting so that the law enforcers can take steps to facilitate movement and maintain law and order.
The Awami League and BNP four mayor candidates along with several hundred supporters are electioneering every day.
Although they are not holding formal rallies, they are bringing out processions and chanting slogans. Vehicle movement is hampered wherever they are going.
DNCC BNP mayor candidate Tabith Awal launched campaign at Pallabi, Mirpur-6 and Bhashantek area on Saturday noon. Several hundred leaders and activists joined him and chanted slogans.
The electioneering was launched with loudspeakers. Vehicle movement was hampered on the road at that time. Police and activists were instructed through microphone to make way for movement of cars. However, nobody bothered about the instruction.
Atiqul Islam delivered his speech seeking votes at Kalachandpur intersection of DNCC. Several hundred activists and supporters gathered there hampering the vehicle movement.
Awami League DSCC candidate Fazle Noor Taposh was scheduled to start electioneering at 12pm. Local leaders and activists gathered under the Babu Bazar flyover from the morning, causing traffic congestion in the area.
Taposh reached there at 2:30pm. Awami League leaders and activists received him with flowers and slogans.
BNP candidate Ishraque Hossain organised electioneering at different places including Shaheb Bazar and Tanti Bazar.
Several hundred leaders and activists joined him.
BNP activists said they are electioneering in this way from the beginning to display their power.
The role of EC
There are 54 wards in the north city corporation and 75 in the south.
In four wards of two city corporations, there were allegations attacks on BNP candidates. There were also allegations of posters being torn down and electioneering of BNP candidates being hindered in 15 wards of the north and 23 in the south.
Some 43 executive magistrates were placed in two city corporations to deal with various allegations including violation of electoral code of conduct.
BNP candidate Tabith Awal reportedly came under attack in the city’s Gabtali area.
There was confusion as to who was to take action, the executive magistrate or the police.
The top court has given directives against the use of laminated posters, but no one is following the directives. Laminated posters are all around.
If any candidate or his supporter violates the electoral code of conduct, he or she is liable to 6 months in prison or fined Tk 50,000 or both.
The election commission can cancel the candidature of any candidate.
On 20 January, commissioner Mahbub Talukder in a letter to the chief election commissioner said the executive magistrates deployed in DNCC and DSCC are not visibly taking any action.
He also said that it would not be possible to restore confidence of the people in the election commission if the commission does not take steps regarding violation of electoral code of conduct.
DNCC returning officer Abul Kashem said they have settled 40 complaints out of 42.
Four candidates have been fined while many have been warned. The police have submitted their report after investigations into the attack on BNP candidate Tabith Awal, and it has been sent to the election commission.
DSCC returning officer Abdul Baten said they have received 62 complaints and steps have been taken accordingly.
Many candidates have been served show cause notices and issued warnings. But no one has been fined.
Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the election commission is totally indifferent to violations of the electoral code of conduct.
The commission should act seriously to stop the violation of electoral code of conduct, he added.
