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NATORE MP

Election code violation, once again

Staff Correspondent
Awami League lawmaker Shafiqul Islam Shimul of Natore met representatives of the local government and party men on Tuesday, and asked them to ensure victory of AL-backed candidates in the district council elections, violating electoral code.
Several people who were at the meeting at Natore Circuit House also said they were told to cast their ballots in favour of the ruling party-backed member candidates.
As per the electoral code of conduct, the Speaker, opposition leader in parliament, ministers, MPs, city corporation mayors and other VIPs enjoying government facilities are not allowed to campaign or take part in other election activities. This was not the first-time violation of the rules by Shimul. In December last year, he accompanied party-nominated may-oral aspirant when the candidate went to submit nomination papers for Natore sadar municipality.
At the time he said sorry to the Election Commission formally for his misconduct and promised to refrain from repeating such activity in future.
However, this month he accompanied his party-backed district council chairman and member aspirants when theywentto submit nomination papers.
The chairman and six other members have already been elected to Natore Zila Parishad unopposed. Three others also got elected for reserved seats. Natore elections will be held on December 28 to elect representatives for the remaining nine general positions and two reserved posts.
Shahina Khatun, deputy commission (DC) of Natore, who will discharge her duty as returning officer in the district council polls, said informed of the meeting, she told the MP that it would be violation of the electoral code of conduct.
"The MP told me it would not since he would only discuss how to celebrate Victory Day on December 16."
The DC said she was not aware of what had been discussed in the meeting.
A union parishad chairman who was among the 20-22 people in the meeting said the MP had directed them to take necessary measures to ensure the victory of the party-backed member candidates.
"If you don't follow the directions, you will not get development projects," said the UP chairman, a leader of the ruling party's local unit.
The Daily Star tried to reach Shimul repeatedly on phone for his comments, but he neither received calls, nor did he reply to text message.