EC show-causes NCP’s Nahid, Patwari over code violation

The Election Commission (EC) has issued show-cause notices to National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Nahid Islam (Dhaka-11) and party chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari (Dhaka-8) for allegedly campaigning ahead of the official schedule.

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury issued the notices today, 18 January. Both leaders must submit written explanations or appear in person tomorrow.

According to Senior District Election Officer Fazlur Rahman, Labour Party candidate Mostafizur Rahman (Dhaka-12) has also been show-caused on similar grounds.

The notice against Nahid Islam cites the presence of large, colorful billboards featuring his image and the slogan "Be in favour of the referendum on national reform" across Dhaka-11. Under the National Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct, electioneering is prohibited until three weeks before polling day.

With symbols set for allocation on 21 January, official campaigning only begins on 22 January.

The EC has ordered the removal of all such billboards by 9:30 am tomorrow. The candidates must explain by 11:00 am why legal action should not be taken against them.

Mahbub Alam, head of the NCP’s election media sub-committee, defended the displays, claiming they were part of a "referendum campaign" rather than personal electioneering. He maintained that the banners did not feature election symbols and therefore did not breach electoral conduct rules.