City Corporation polls
EC alerts 4 including two imams in Barishal
Staff reporter, Barishal
The Election Commission (EC) in Barishal has issued alerts to the imams of two mosques in the city for campaigning in favour of councillor candidates under their masjeeds after prayers.
The EC has also alerted the two related councillors, said Mujibur Rahman, returning officer of the Barishal City Corporation (BCC) election. Rahman also said 10 vigilance teams have launched drives in all the 30 ward areas to curb violations of electoral rules.
Electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used at 10 centres of wards 12, 20, 21 and 28 of the BCC this year.
All the candidates now are currently engaged in canvassing by using loudspeakers from 2pm to 8pm. They have also been carrying out mass contact programmes till late in the night in different areas of the city.
Rafikul Alam, city secretary of SHUJON, said if anyone is elected uncontested, it would affect the primary spirit as well as the rule and role of democracy. Besides, voters will lose the power to judge the ability of the candidates. Any continuation of this trend would permanently affect democracy.
Aspirants to three general councillors seats and a seat reserved for a councillor were elected uncontested this year.
Advocate Manabendra Batobayal, former president of SANAK (conscious citizens committee) of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), referring to the withdrawal of nomination papers under pressure, said if this trend continues, selected candidates would became winners without contesting elections despite Bangladesh being a democracy.
