Candidates go all out

BNP alleges harassment, AL says everything’s fine

Candidates of the three city corporation elections in Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet are making last-ditch efforts to bag votes, as two more days are left for campaigning to end. It's a no-holds barred contest between the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

BNP candidates are alleging that their supporters and workers are being harassed and arrested by law enforcers. This is vitiating the election environment. They said if such harassment, intimidation and arrests continue, free and fair elections would be impossible. Voters will be afraid to cast their ballots and agents will stay away from polling centres on security grounds.

BNP candidates said the Army should be deployed to ensure fair elections as they do not have faith in law enforcers.

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed law enforcement agencies not to harass or arrest leaders and activists of any political party in Barishal without any specific allegations, ahead of the Barisal City Corporation election scheduled for July 30.

An HC bench, comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal, passed the order following a writ petition filed by Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, the BNP-backed mayor aspirant. The HC bench also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the arrest of BNP leaders, activists, supporters and campaigners should not be declared illegal.

The home secretary, commissioner of Barishal Police, superintendent of police and the deputy commissioner have been made respondents to the rule.

In the petition, Mujibur Rahman said law enforcers have been carrying out indiscriminate arrests of his supporters, activists and campaigners violating the Supreme Court guideline.

In a verdict, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said nobody can be arrested without specific allegations and the police have to show their identity card while making arrests in plain clothes and the police have to inform relatives of those arrested about the detention.

On Tuesday, the HC had also passed the same order asking the law enforcers not to arrest or harass political party activists ahead of city elections.

But AL candidates said there is nothing to be worried about as the voting environment is fine and voters can cast their votes without intimidation.

On the other hand, election commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday ordered the returning officer of Barishal City Corporation elections not to surrender to any pressure as the civic polls are very important for the Election Commission.

He said this while addressing a meeting with local law enforcement agencies at the conference room of the deputy commissioner.

He said the election related persons who will fail to carry out their responsibilities will be punished. No laxity would be tolerated, he added.

Our Barishal correspondent reports that all candidates, including the mayoral aspirants, are in full throttle in the campaign race.

The Detective Branch of the Barishal Metropolitan Police (BMP) has identified 50 out of 123 polling centres as highly risky and 62 are risk prone. Only 11 centres are normal.

BMP sources said the highly risky and risk prone centres are mainly located near residences of the mayoral and

commissioner candidates. BMP commissioner Md. Mahfuzur Rahman said the district administration and the EC have been informed about the important centres.

Md. Mujibor Rahman, returning officer of the BCC election, said adequate police force has been deployed in very important and important centres. He hoped that the election will be held peacefully.

BNP candidate Mojibor Rahman Sarwar has alleged that the police are harassing his workers and activists. While campaigning in the Chuhatpur area of the city, Sarwar told reporters that the EC had earlier assured them of fair elections in Barishal.

“But our anxiety has not gone. Our activists are being harassed and arrested. The police arrested 23 BNP activists, including Jasim, assistant secretary of ward- 29 and Kabir, Jubodal member of ward -10,  in the last 24 hours,” he added. Deputy police commissioner (DB) Muazzam Hossain Bhuiyan said: “The police have not arrested any one without any specific warrant.

Political parties are making allegations against the police for their own benefit and strategy.” BNP standing committee member, Mirrza Abbas, said at a press conference that a level playing field is absent. The police and AL activists have created a horrible environment.

Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: BNP candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul has demanded Army deployment, as he does not have faith in law enforcers. His supporters and activists are being harassed and intimidated by the police.

“It has become difficult to trust law enforcers as they are harassing my supporters. The EC is not taking steps. So, I want army deployment for fair elections,” he said at the BNP office at Malupara in the city.

On the other hand, AL candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton claimed that the election environment is fine and voters can cast their ballots without intimidation. There is no need for army deployment, he said while campaigning at Malda Colony in Ward-16 in the city.

The AL’s mayoral candidate in Sylhet, Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, said, if elected, he would build the city as the first digital city corporation.

“I took up a master plan for the city’s development. If I’m elected again, I will complete the unfinished task,” he added.

 

Candidates go all out

BNP alleges harassment, AL says everythings fine

Candidates of the three city corporation elections in Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet are making last-ditch efforts to bag votes, as two more days are left for campaigning to end. Its a no-holds barred contest between the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). BNP candidates are alleging that their supporters and workers are being harassed and arrested by law enforcers. This is vitiating the election environment. They said if such harassment, intimidation and arrests continue, free and fair elections would be impossible. Voters will be afraid to cast their ballots and agents will stay away from polling centres on security grounds. BNP candidates said the Army should be deployed to ensure fair elections as they do not have faith in law enforcers. The High Court (HC) yesterday directed law enforcement agencies not to harass or arrest leaders and activists of any political party in Barishal without any specific allegations, ahead of the Barisal City Corporation election scheduled for July 30. An HC bench, comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal, passed the order following a writ petition filed by Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, the BNP-backed mayor aspirant. The HC bench also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the arrest of BNP leaders, activists, supporters and campaigners should not be declared illegal. The home secretary, commissioner of Barishal Police, superintendent of police and the deputy commissioner have been made respondents to the rule. In the petition, Mujibur Rahman said law enforcers have been carrying out indiscriminate arrests of his supporters, activists and campaigners violating the Supreme Court guideline. In a verdict, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said nobody can be arrested without specific allegations and the police have to show their identity card while making arrests in plain clothes and the police have to inform relatives of those arrested about the detention. On Tuesday, the HC had also passed the same order asking the law enforcers not to arrest or harass political party activists ahead of city elections. But AL candidates said there is nothing to be worried about as the voting environment is fine and voters can cast their votes without intimidation. On the other hand, election commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday ordered the returning officer of Barishal City Corporation elections not to surrender to any pressure as the civic polls are very important for the Election Commission. He said this while addressing a meeting with local law enforcement agencies at the conference room of the deputy commissioner. He said the election related persons who will fail to carry out their responsibilities will be punished. No laxity would be tolerated, he added. Our Barishal correspondent reports that all candidates, including the mayoral aspirants, are in full throttle in the campaign race. The Detective Branch of the Barishal Metropolitan Police (BMP) has identified 50 out of 123 polling centres as highly risky and 62 are risk prone. Only 11 centres are normal. BMP sources said the highly risky and risk prone centres are mainly located near residences of the mayoral and commissioner candidates. BMP commissioner Md. Mahfuzur Rahman said the district administration and the EC have been informed about the important centres. Md. Mujibor Rahman, returning officer of the BCC election, said adequate police force has been deployed in very important and important centres. He hoped that the election will be held peacefully. BNP candidate Mojibor Rahman Sarwar has alleged that the police are harassing his workers and activists. While campaigning in the Chuhatpur area of the city, Sarwar told reporters that the EC had earlier assured them of fair elections in Barishal. But our anxiety has not gone. Our activists are being harassed and arrested. The police arrested 23 BNP activists, including Jasim, assistant secretary of ward- 29 and Kabir, Jubodal member of ward -10, in the last 24 hours, he added. Deputy police commissioner (DB) Muazzam Hossain Bhuiyan said: The police have not arrested any one without any specific warrant. Political parties are making allegations against the police for their own benefit and strategy. BNP standing committee member, Mirrza Abbas, said at a press conference that a level playing field is absent. The police and AL activists have created a horrible environment. Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: BNP candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul has demanded Army deployment, as he does not have faith in law enforcers. His supporters and activists are being harassed and intimidated by the police. It has become difficult to trust law enforcers as they are harassing my supporters. The EC is not taking steps. So, I want army deployment for fair elections, he said at the BNP office at Malupara in the city. On the other hand, AL candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton claimed that the election environment is fine and voters can cast their ballots without intimidation. There is no need for army deployment, he said while campaigning at Malda Colony in Ward-16 in the city. The ALs mayoral candidate in Sylhet, Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, said, if elected, he would build the city as the first digital city corporation. I took up a master plan for the citys development. If Im elected again, I will complete the unfinished task, he added.