Most candidates campaigning in violation of election code of conduct

In violation of the Election Code of Conduct, leaders and activists of various political parties – including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami – as well as independent candidates and their supporters, have been actively campaigning.

The Business Standard reviewed campaigning activities over the past week involving at least 100 candidates nationwide, including 20 BNP candidates, 15 Jamaat candidates, 10 NCP candidates, and 25 independent candidates, along with content posted by the candidates and their supporters across Facebook and other platforms. Almost all of them had been seen engaged in election campaigning in one form or another.

According to the election schedule for the upcoming national elections, official campaigning will begin on 22 January. This means that from the announcement of the schedule until three weeks before polling day, neither candidates nor anyone on their behalf are permitted to engage in electioneering.

In addition to physical campaigning, candidates and their supporters are also seeking votes through social media platforms, particularly Facebook, and other digital channels.

On Wednesday (7 January), a meeting was held by the Mirzapur upazila and municipal BNP, along with its affiliated and associate organisations. Although the banner described the event as a prayer gathering seeking forgiveness for the soul of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and a preparatory meeting ahead of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's four-day visit to northern Bangladesh, votes were openly sought at the event in favour of Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, the BNP-nominated candidate for Tangail-7. The candidate himself also asked for votes. Moreover, the event banner included the slogan "Vote for the Sheaf of Paddy".

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, the party's candidate for Khulna-5, sought votes on 2 January at a gathering of members of the Hindu community, calling for the victory of the Scales symbol. He also carried out public outreach on various dates.

Mahbub Alam, central joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a potential candidate of the 11-party alliance for Lakshmipur-1, posted election campaign materials on his verified Facebook account on 6 and 7 January, and on other dates, featuring posters with his image urging votes for the party symbol Shapla Kali.

On Wednesday in Rupsha, Khulna, Azizul Bari Helal, the BNP-nominated candidate for Khulna-4, organised a condolence meeting where he sought votes for the Sheaf of Paddy symbol and promised that voters would receive family cards if his party came to power, even displaying such a card at the event.

SM Rashedul Alam, Jamaat's candidate for Joypurhat-2, posted campaign posters urging votes for the Scales symbol on his verified Facebook account on 27 December, 1 January, and 4 January, among other dates.

Nazmul Hasan Patwari, Jamaat's candidate for Lakshmipur-1, posted videos of public outreach and appealed for votes for the Scales symbol on his official Facebook page.

Similarly, Master Ruhul Amin, Jamaat's candidate for Lakshmipur-2, published videos on his Facebook page seeking votes for the party's Scales symbol.

Among independent candidates, Tasnim Jara, contesting from Dhaka-9, has been campaigning in her constituency by meeting voters and has also continued electioneering on social media.

Campaigning has also been observed from BNP-run Facebook pages such as "Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP" and "BNP Media Cell", as well as from pages operated by party leaders and activists, all promoting the party symbol Sheaf of Paddy.

Likewise, election campaigning is being carried out through official Facebook pages of several political parties, including "Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami", "National Citizen Party – NCP", "Islami Andolan Bangladesh", and "Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party)", with videos and images promoting party symbols.

Under the Election Code of Conduct, campaigning in violation of the rules is a punishable offence. If a candidate or any person acting on their behalf violates any provision of the code during the prohibited period, they may face up to six months' imprisonment, or a fine of up to Tk150,000, or both. If a registered political party violates the code during this period, it may be fined up to Tk1 lakh.

In addition, violations of the code may lead to the cancellation of a candidate's candidature.

Election Commission officials said that candidates are not permitted to campaign before the allocation of electoral symbols on 21 January. If complaints are submitted to the returning officers with proper evidence against those engaging in premature campaigning, appropriate action will be taken.

Candidates issued show-cause notices for campaigning

Reza Kibria, the BNP-nominated parliamentary candidate for Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj–Bahubal), has been served a show-cause notice for allegedly violating the election code of conduct. The notice was issued by Saidur Rahman, chair of the election inquiry and judicial committee and a judge of the Ajmiriganj Civil Judge Court.

On 2 January at around 6pm, Reza Kibria reportedly conducted election campaigning by distributing leaflets and handbills with his supporters in the Imambari Bazar area of Nabiganj upazila.

The notice, issued on Wednesday, instructed the candidate to submit a written explanation by 14 January. Similarly, Ikramul Bari (Tipu), BNP candidate for Naogaon-4 (Manda), was also served a show-cause notice on Wednesday for violating the election code.

Akhtar Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, told The Business Standard, "There is no scope for candidates or anyone campaigning on their behalf to engage in electioneering before the designated campaign period. 

"If anyone violates the rules and campaigns prematurely, returning officers will take action once it comes to their attention. Candidates are not allowed to conduct any campaigning before the allocation of symbols on 21 January."