A writ petition was filed against Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party Cchairman HM Ershad for campaigning in Gazipur City Corporation elections using party banners.Advocate Dr Yunus Ali Akand filed the petition on Wednesday seeking rule to explain why using party banners in GCC polls should not be declared illegal.
It also sought a stay order on holding the polls until disposition of the petition.
The petition also sought rule to explain why the activities of the defendants in election campaigning using the banners of Awami League and BNP and failure of the Election Commission in holding a non-partisan local government election should not be declared illegal.
The Chief Election Commissioner, Local Government secretary, Gazipur City Corporation’s BNP-backed mayoral candidate MA Mannan, Awami League-blessed candidate Ajmat Ullah Khan and another mayoral candidate Jahangir Alam, who stayed off the race, were also made respondents to the petition.
Petitioner Yunus Ali Akand said the writ petition will be placed for hearing either on Thursday or Sunday.
He said the Election Commission has failed to hold a free, fair, acceptable and non-partisan local government election in Gazipur. Both the candidates have violated the election code of conduct and constitutional obligation, he said.
“The two main political parties have nominated their candidates for the polls where MPs and senior leaders of both parties have been campaigning in favour of their candidates. The interference of the two main political parties in the local government election has become a matter of concern for people. As per law local government election should be non-partisan,” he added.
Earlier, Yunus Ali had filed a writ challenging the legality of City Corporation polls in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet which were held on Jun 15.
