Referring to promises being made by a large party to distribute various types of cards, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said that this is a “clear violation of the code of conduct,” having urged the Election Commission to take action regarding the matter.
He said this to journalists after a meeting with the chief election commissioner at the Election Commission building in Agargaon on Wednesday afternoon.
Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said, “Our main concern today was the code of conduct. Immediately after the schedule was announced, under the instructions of our Ameer, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and in accordance with the code of conduct, we ourselves removed all our campaign materials within 48 hours. But there are major violations in electoral code of conduct adherence in various places. Today we brought it to the EC’s attention that they need to perform their duties more actively regarding this. Both physical and digital banners have been put up in various places; we urged them to ensure their removal and drew their attention to all these matters to ensure a level playing field. They have noted these and will take necessary steps.”
He said, “We have seen through our journalist friends that various types of cards are being offered by a large party. They are making various promises that they will distribute so many lakhs-crores of cards, and each card will receive thousands of lakhs of taka. We said this is a clear violation of the code of conduct. We have urged them to take action regarding this. We told them, to look into these, keep track, and take necessary measures. That is, wherever and to whatever extent the code of conduct is being violated, we have brought it to their attention. We urged them to take measures immediately.”
When asked which party he was referring to as distributing cards, he said, “You know it, and we know it too.”
He said, “If CCTV cameras are not installed at the polling centers, terrorists and those with dishonest intentions will get a major opportunity to sabotage the election. If there are CCTV cameras, that opportunity will not exist. They said they have taken the initiative. We said, whatever you do, this must be ensured. So that the people can come to the centres with mental peace and in a fearless environment.”
He said, “We spoke about the overall law-and-order situation. We talked about the recovery of illegal arms. We talked about the arrest of identified terrorists. Very recently, a parliamentary candidate from Dhaka-8, who was a very popular youth leader, was brutally murdered. He was engaged in electoral activities. The murder was committed in a very brutal manner, which has created widespread shock across the entire country. It has created a mental trauma in a vast number of people.”
“Furthermore, a journalist was killed in Khulna. We said it is crucial for them to recover illegal arms and arrest the terrorists. The EC has held meetings with the chiefs of the law enforcement agencies. They said they had a meeting today as well. They told us that they have taken all these initiatives.”
He said, “Our leaders who are playing a role in the election, including our Ameer of Jamaat, the Secretary General, and other top leaders, will conduct extensive tours. They have to go to various places; we have drawn attention to their security, stating that if some get facilities while others do not, that is not a level playing field. They said the concerned ministry handles this matter and they will speak with them.”
When asked whether he fears any code of conduct violations regarding the reception rally planned for BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman who is returning to the country on Thursday, he replied, “We have drawn attention to all matters. It is their responsibility to see if any party is violating the code of conduct.”
