Dhaka, May 9 – Prime Minister’s Political Adviser HT Imam on Wednesday alleged that the activities and behaviour of returning officer of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Yunus Ali is biased towards a particular party.
The co-chairman of AL Election Subcommittee made the allegation while talking to reporters after concluding a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda at Nirbachon Bhaban.
Voicing no-confidence in the activities of KCC returning officer, HT Imam said, “His (KCC returning officer) past is very dark. He had been a cadre of particular political party which is evident in his behaviour and activities.”
“In Khulna City Corporation, a level-playing field has not established yet…our senior leaders can’t take part in election campaign while all senior and junior leaders of other parties are easily doing theirs,” he alleged.
He also demanded proper steps by the Commission by amending rules to resolve the matter.
HT Imam said they earlier urged the Election Commission to take measures for making the activities of the returning officer impartial in Khulna city polls.
He said the lists of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers did not make public to receive complaints before the preparation of the final lists. But the final lists the returning officer published are not acceptable to none except a particular party, which proved that he is biased to a party.
Mentioning that the situation has improved now, he hoped that the returning officer will refrain from his unfair activities taking opinion from all during the election.
HT Imam also alleged that propaganda and falsehood continue against the AL mayoral candidate in Khulna city election.
Observing that Khulna was a city of terrorists in the past, he said now the criminals have become active under the shelter of political parties during the election. “So, we asked the Commission to take measures so that they (criminals) can’t influence the election.”
He said his party wants the Election Commission to hold a fair and free election.
When his attention was drawn to the allegation of the BNP mayoral candidate that many BNP activists were arrested, HT Imam said it is completely a lie as those who were arrested are identified accused and terrorists.
At the meeting, the ruling party placed an 11-point proposal before the Commission, including taking measures so that AL central and senior leaders, who are now ministers and MPs can take part in the election campaign.
Later, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told reporters that the AL team placed allegation against the returning officer. The party earlier had also made such allegations, he added.
“He (the returning officer) didn’t deal with the issue properly. We’ve already sent a joint secretary to Khulna to assist the returning officer there to avoid faults so that the election is held in a credible manner,” the EC Secretary said.
HT Imam led the AL five-member delegation at the meeting with the CEC. The four other members are AL leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Abdur Rahman, Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and advocate ABM Reazul Kabir Kawser.
In the KCC election, scheduled to be held on May 15, a total of five mayor candidates, 148 general councilors and 38 reserved-seat female councilor candidates are competing it. -UNB
