The Election Commission has issued show-cause notices to Jamaat-e-Islami candidate S M Niamul Karim and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Mohammad Sirajul Islam over alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct in Jhalakathi-2 (Jhalakathi Sadar– Nalchity).
The notices were served on Thursday evening by the constituency’s election inquiry officer and Civil Judge Arif Hossain, directing both candidates to submit a written explanation.
According to the notice, all candidates were required to remove election posters, banners, wall writings, billboards, gates, arches, pandals, lighting, and other campaign materials at their own expense and responsibility within 48 hours of the schedule announcement for the 13th National Parliament Election 2026.
However, inspections and reports indicated that, even after the deadline, posters bearing the names and probable symbols of S M Niamul Karim and Mohammad Sirajul Islam remained visible across Jhalakathi and Nalchity towns and other parts of the Jhalokathi-2 constituency. This constitutes a breach of Rule 7(k) of the Electoral Code of Conduct, 2025.
This notice further instructed the candidates to appear at the District Judge’s Court on the third floor of Rajapur Civil Judge Court on 11 January at 11:30am to submit their written explanation, failing which the Election Commission may take further action.
Mohammad Sirajul Islam told Times of Bangladesh, “My workers have removed all posters, banners and festoons across Jhalakathi Sadar and Nalchity. A few may have inadvertently remained. I respect the law and am ready to submit a written response to the show-cause notice on time.”
Repeated calls to S M Niamul Karim’s mobile went unanswered, and his comment could not be obtained.
