UNB, Dhaka :
Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz on Wednesday said Housing Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain did not directly violate the election code of conduct joining a recent views-exchange meeting in presence of Awami League-backed mayoral candidate AJM Nasir in Chittagong.
“The returning officer himself informed (Commission) that the minister was present there, but didn’t take part in election campaign directly, he didn’t violate the code of conduct directly,” the commissioner told reporters
at his office at the Election Commission Secretariat. Shah Nawaz said returning officer of Chittagong City Corporation election Md Abdul Baten submitted a report to the Commission following an investigation into media report that the minister breached the election code by joining a programme in Chittagong.
The commissioner also said the Election Commission did not sit in any meeting to discuss the issue.
Being ministers of the country, he said, they can go anywhere in the country for their official purpose and they can carry out their functions unless these influence the election. “If they (ministers) participate in election activities, it obviously will be unlawful. We must take action,” he warned.
Shah Nawaz said the Commission has already given instruction to the returning officers of the three city corporations to take actions against violation of the code of conduct without caring the status of the accused persons.
As per the Article 14 (A) of the code of conduct for city corporation elections, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, whips, ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers or anybody of their status cannot participate in election campaigns or electoral activities.
According to recent media reports, Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain allegedly sought votes in favour of AJM Nasir joining a views-exchange in Chittagong on March 29.
Later, on March 31, he along with State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affair Bir Bahadur was allegedly present in a closed door meeting at a hotel in the port city to finalise election strategies for Nasir.
Following the incidents, returning officer Md Abdul Baten investigated the incidents and sent a letter to the Election Commission seeking its instructions regarding the matters.
Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz on Wednesday said Housing Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain did not directly violate the election code of conduct joining a recent views-exchange meeting in presence of Awami League-backed mayoral candidate AJM Nasir in Chittagong.
“The returning officer himself informed (Commission) that the minister was present there, but didn’t take part in election campaign directly, he didn’t violate the code of conduct directly,” the commissioner told reporters
at his office at the Election Commission Secretariat. Shah Nawaz said returning officer of Chittagong City Corporation election Md Abdul Baten submitted a report to the Commission following an investigation into media report that the minister breached the election code by joining a programme in Chittagong.
The commissioner also said the Election Commission did not sit in any meeting to discuss the issue.
Being ministers of the country, he said, they can go anywhere in the country for their official purpose and they can carry out their functions unless these influence the election. “If they (ministers) participate in election activities, it obviously will be unlawful. We must take action,” he warned.
Shah Nawaz said the Commission has already given instruction to the returning officers of the three city corporations to take actions against violation of the code of conduct without caring the status of the accused persons.
As per the Article 14 (A) of the code of conduct for city corporation elections, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, whips, ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers or anybody of their status cannot participate in election campaigns or electoral activities.
According to recent media reports, Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain allegedly sought votes in favour of AJM Nasir joining a views-exchange in Chittagong on March 29.
Later, on March 31, he along with State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affair Bir Bahadur was allegedly present in a closed door meeting at a hotel in the port city to finalise election strategies for Nasir.
Following the incidents, returning officer Md Abdul Baten investigated the incidents and sent a letter to the Election Commission seeking its instructions regarding the matters.
