BNP leaders violating polls code: Allege Jamaat, NCP

Bangladesh Jamaat e Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), two components of the 10 party alliance, in separate press briefings yesterday alleged that BNP leaders are violating the electoral code of conduct.

At a press briefing at the party office in Moghbazar, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair claimed that in the Habiganj 3 constituency, photos of deceased leaders were being used in violation of the code, while oversised PVC billboards were displayed in Gazipur 5.

He further accused BNP activists of threatening alliance activists, obstructing female campaigners in Ullapara of Sirajganj, attacking them, vandalising vehicles, and inciting mobs by filming women and shouting provocative slogans.

In Lakshmipur 3, Jamaat activists were injured during campaign activities, while in Jhenaidah 4 festoons were burned. He added that female activists in Faridpur 1 faced intimidation.

Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, speaking at a press conference at the party’s Banglamotor office last night, alleged that BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is violating the code of conduct by campaigning beyond the deadline.

Asif said the EC has fixed the time from 2:00pm to 8:00pm for using microphones and sound boxes in election campaigns.

“But the party [BNP] is holding public meetings at night, using microphones and sound boxes as late as 12:00am and even 4:00am, which violates the code of conduct,” he said.

“We will call on the Election Commission to take action against such violations of the code of conduct,” he added.