As per Bangladesh Electoral Codes and Regulations, if any candidate in the local elections identify themselves as a 'member of a national political party' or as a candidate of a national political party, he/she would be disqualified in the upcoming election. If he/she gets elected and found guilty of violating such 'non-democratic' electoral code of conduct, his/her victory will be declared as 'null and void' by the Election Commission. Is such is desined either (1) to discourage politicians or political party to participate in the local elections, or (2) to tell lies or hide one's true identity? Is it designed to weaken political parties and create a nation of liars? See the Bangladesh leading daily the New Age's report below. If such electoral code of conduct would have been in practice in the U. S., elections of all our Mayors like Mayor Nennino would have been nullified as they identify themselves as members of a national political parties. What a wonder!!!
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As per the Bangladesh Caretaker government's "electoral code of conduct and electoral regulations", any candidate for local elections, for example. Mayoral Election cannot declare himself or herself as a member of any political party. If he does and if his/her activists organize campaigns or raise funds, such will be deemed as 'violation of the electoral code of conduct and electoral rules'. He/she can be disqualified to contest and if elected, his/her victory can be declared as null and void. Under such a situation, can you expect a 'free, fair and credible election'?
See newspaper report on Mayoral election below.
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ALLEGED VIOLATION OF CODE OF CONDUCT
EC starts probe against
12 candidates
Staff Correspondent , The Ndw Age, July 24, 2008
The Election Commission has started investigation of alleged violation of electoral code of conduct and electoral rules by 12 candidates in the August 4 elections to four city corporations.
The EC on Tuesday decided to launch the investigation and asked the returning officers concerned to submit reports to the commission within a week. The EC has assigned an official to receive such allegations against candidates and submit them to the commission at its meeting every four days.
'If the candidates are found guilty after investigation, their nomination papers may be cancelled', according to the commission's rules and code of conduct.
Of the 12 allegations already made, six were lodged from Sylhet city corporation area, two from Barisal, one from Khulna and three from Rajshahi city corporation area.
The returning officers also started issuing warning to the candidates against violating electoral code of conduct.
The RO for Rajshahi city corporation polls has already issued such warnings to two mayoral candidates and a councillor candidate for violating the code of conduct.
Mayoral candidates AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, a Nagarik Committee nominee and Raihanur Rahman, a Progressive Democratic Party leader, have been cautioned against using their respective party identities during campaigns.
New Age staff correspondent in Sylhet reported that an eight-member vigilance team headed by a deputy election commissioner has been formed in Sylhet to oversee the electioneering by the mayoral and councillor candidates in the Sylhet city corporation polls set for August 4.
The team has been formed to take legal action against the candidates and their supporters if they are found to have violated the code of conduct, sources in the office of the returning officer said.
'Even cases may be filed with the police if evidence of violation of conduct is found against a candidate', Mizanur Rahman Khandaker, deputy election commissioner and returning officer for the SCC polls, said.
Other members of the vigilance team are – the district election officer, Sylhet metropolitan police commissioner, deputy director of the Ansars and VDP, deputy director of the district information office, deputy director of the secondary education department and secretary of the Sylhet city corporation.
According to sources in the returning office, written complaints against six candidates – four for general councillor's seats and two for reserved seats in the SCC – have so far been submitted to the returning officer for violation of the code of conduct.
A case was filed with the Kotwali police against six supporters of Babrul Hossain Babul, a mayoral candidate, on Tuesday.
The police arrested them as they brought out a truck procession with a brass band, prohibited by the electoral rules, in Shibganj area in the city, the sources said. The arrested were sent to jail, Kotwali police said.
'Notice will be served to contestants for councillor posts if they are found violating the code of conduct', the returning officer said
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