Chattogram-15 Jamaat candidate Shahjahan Chowdhury served show-cause notice for violating election code

Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate Shahjahan Chowdhury contesting from the Chattogram-15 (Satkania–Lohagara) constituency has been served a show-cause notice for allegedly seeking votes using the party's electoral symbol at a social programme, in violation of the electoral code of conduct.

The notice was issued on Wednesday morning by Rupan Kumar Dash, chairman of the constituency's election inquiry and judicial committee, for breaching campaign rules. Rupan Kumar Dash confirmed the issuance of the notice.

According to election officials, Shahjahan Chowdhury attended a social feast in Barahatia union of Lohagara upazila on 2 January. During the event, local Jamaat leader and union Ameer Md Jasim Uddin sought votes for the "scale" symbol. Shahjahan Chowdhury was present at the venue at the time.

A video of the incident later circulated on social media, prompting Chattogram South district BNP joint convener Ashab Uddin Chowdhury to file a complaint with the election inquiry committee.

After reviewing the complaint, the committee found that campaigning had been carried out before the official allocation of electoral symbols, constituting a violation of the code of conduct. As a result, show-cause notices were issued to both Shahjahan Chowdhury and Md Jasim Uddin.

The notice directs Shahjahan Chowdhury to appear before the chairman of the election inquiry and judicial committee at the committee's temporary office at 11:00am on 19 January and submit a written explanation regarding the allegation.