Jatiya Party Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad cannot campaign for party-backed city poll aspirants since he holds government office as the prime minister's special envoy, Election Commission (EC) has said, report agencies.
The commission also warned against BNP Chief Khaleda Zia against campaigning, saying although she does not hold government office, her motorcade during the campaigns hampers city life creating traffic jams.
On Tuesday, returning officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, Mihir Sarwar Morshed said, mayor candidates and their poll agents have been told to be careful and not violate the poll code during campaigns involving key political leaders.
"Recent incidents of blocking roads and use of motorcades during campaigns involving political leader have come to our notice, which violates poll codes."
He continued that Ershad has already participated in a number of rallies and campaigned for party candidates. "We requested him to refrain from campaigning as he is a government beneficiary."
EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam said they will look into allegations of Khaleda Zia being barred from campaigning if it is lodged with them by the related candidates.
The BNP chief faced resistance on Sunday at Uttara while canvassing for BNP-backed Dhaka North mayor candidate Tabith Awal. A day later, her motorcade came under attack at Karwan Bazar.
Meanwhile, in the face of a growing demand from different quarters, the EC on Tuesday finally decided to deploy army in three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong from April 26 to 29, aiming to peacefully hold the crucial polls, billed for April 28.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz announced the decision following a meeting at the EC secretariat on the day.
"Army will be used as both reserve force and striking force. But the number of the army personnel to be deployed during the polls is yet to be fixed. The EC will decide it later," he said.
