Runners in the Dhaka North City Corporation polls yesterday demanded that the Election Commission take effective measures to prevent the use of muscle power and black money in the elections.
Some of them wanted the deployment of the army and a halt to “police harassment” ahead of the polls to ensure a level playing field.
The aspirants came up with the demands at a views-exchange meeting between them and the EC, organised by the returning officer of the DNCC, at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh.
In response to their demands, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad directed the law enforcers to remain cautious so that no candidate becomes a victim of harassment.
“Keep vigil so that candidates can conduct campaign fairly … and the polling centres are protected so that no illegal or untoward incident occur,” he said.
The decision on army deployment would be made on April 19 at a meeting on law and order.
Elections to the bifurcated Dhaka city corporations and Chittagong would be held on April 28.
The EC on Saturday held a similar meeting with candidates in Chittagong City Corporation polls, and would hold a meeting with aspirants in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) polls today.
Speaking at the meeting, Awami League-backed mayor candidate Annisul Huq said, “We all demand a level playing field. I promise to follow all the electoral laws.”
In response to reporters’ query after the meeting, Annisul said there was no need to deploy the army.
BNP-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal said, “Many leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance, which is backing me, are now either in jail or on the run fearing police harassment.
“I would like to request the Election Commission to intervene and arrange bail for them [party men],” he said.
Tabith demanded that police conduct drives to recover illegal arms and force licensed arms holders to submit their firearms to police stations ahead of the polls.
Tabith demanded deployment of the army claiming that his supporters might would be able to campaign without fear, if the army was on the ground.
Bikolpodhara Bangladesh-backed mayoral candidate Mahi B Chowdhury urged the EC to form “citizen participatory committee” at every ward so that the committee could oversee electoral campaign expenditure.
Deployment of the army was necessary for gaining public trust and creating a congenial atmosphere for fair polls, he viewed.
Another mayor candidate Zonayed Saki said the EC must exert its constitutional power to prevent the use of black money and muscle power for the sake of creating a level playing field.
Communist Party of Bangladesh-backed candidate Abdullah Al Kafee said the EC must keep vigil so that no candidate could use the administration, other government machineries, black money, and muscle power.
He urged police not to harass candidates who have no cases filed against them.
Mayor aspirant AYM Kamrul Islam also expressed similar opinions on black money and muscle power.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-backed mayoral candidate Nader Chowdhury said, “In many cases, I have seen a lack of coordination in the activities of Election Commission. I request this to be solved.”
Jatiya Party-backed candidate Bahauddin Ahmed said, “I would like to request the EC to implement what you [the election commissioners] are saying before us to ensure a level playing field.”
Mayor hopeful Shamsul Alam Chowdhury alleged that some candidates backed by big political parties frequently violated the electoral code of conduct but the EC did nothing.
A number of mayor contenders criticised the media and said TV channels and newspapers were giving huge coverage to only big shot candidates.
A number of councillor aspirants alleged that some ruling Awami League-backed councillor aspirants were threatening them.
Kafil Uddin, a councillor aspirant of Ward-18, said, “I have been facing threats since submission of my nomination. Although I am an activist of the Awami League, the party has not supported me. The candidate, who gets the party support, is now publicly saying he will occupy polling centres on Election Day.”
CEC Rakibuddin said he had directed the polling officials to hold the election impartially and in a transparent manner. He sought cooperation from all and urged the candidates not to violate the electoral code of conduct.
Over 23 lakh voters are entitled to elect 36 ward councillors and 12 councillors reserved for women in the DNCC.
Meanwhile, executive magistrates of Dhaka metropolitan yesterday issued show cause notices upon a mayor aspirant and five councillor candidates in connection with violating the electoral code of conduct.
Source: The Daily Star
