EC accuses AL of violating election code of conduct
Friday, 7 November 2008
The Election Commission (EC) blamed the Awami League (AL) for violating electoral code of conduct through staging motor procession with a show of colourful posters to accord a rousing reception to party president Sheikh Hasina on her homecoming from abroad Thursday, reports UNB.
After the morning showdown, the Commission issued a notice to AL's acting general secretary asking them to restrain the party from doing such activities in order to create the atmosphere congenial to holding the upcoming ninth parliamentary elections.
Signed by EC Deputy Secretary (election) Mihir Sarwar Morshed, the notice was sent to the AL office in the afternoon.
The EC reminded that it had recently announced the schedule for the polls and also promulgated the code of conduct 2008 for political parties and the candidates.
"According to the rules any registered political party, its nominated candidates or independent candidates or anybody on behalf of them cannot start off campaign before three weeks of the voting day," the letter reads.
The Commission further pointed out that severe traffic jams clogged city's various roads during the reception to the AL president and former PM, Sheikh Hasina.
"The motor demonstrations and showdown caused acute problems for movement of people of all walks of life," it said.
Besides, the notice noted that posters were pasted on the vehicles, colourful posters of the potential candidates demonstrated and processions brought out with party symbol 'Boat'.
"Such reception programme has been turned into election campaigning in reality, and the code of conduct for parliamentary elections has been violated this way," the EC said in its notice, copies of which were handed to waiting reporters at the EC office.
After the morning showdown, the Commission issued a notice to AL's acting general secretary asking them to restrain the party from doing such activities in order to create the atmosphere congenial to holding the upcoming ninth parliamentary elections.
Signed by EC Deputy Secretary (election) Mihir Sarwar Morshed, the notice was sent to the AL office in the afternoon.
The EC reminded that it had recently announced the schedule for the polls and also promulgated the code of conduct 2008 for political parties and the candidates.
"According to the rules any registered political party, its nominated candidates or independent candidates or anybody on behalf of them cannot start off campaign before three weeks of the voting day," the letter reads.
The Commission further pointed out that severe traffic jams clogged city's various roads during the reception to the AL president and former PM, Sheikh Hasina.
"The motor demonstrations and showdown caused acute problems for movement of people of all walks of life," it said.
Besides, the notice noted that posters were pasted on the vehicles, colourful posters of the potential candidates demonstrated and processions brought out with party symbol 'Boat'.
"Such reception programme has been turned into election campaigning in reality, and the code of conduct for parliamentary elections has been violated this way," the EC said in its notice, copies of which were handed to waiting reporters at the EC office.