The Awami League-nominated chairman candidate in Moulvibazar’s council has accused ruling MP Md Abdus Shahid of violating the electoral code of conduct.
Rafiqur Rahman, the ruling party’s pick for Kamalganj upazila, claims that Moulvibazar-4 lawmaker Shahid has gone against the party’s interest by campaigning for his brother and rival candidate Imtiaz Ahmed Bulbul.
"I am running for the chairman in the upazila election, slated to be held on Mar 18, on the Awami League’s ticket," he told a media call on Saturday (Mar 9).
Alleging the MP of campaigning for his sibling using government protocol, Rahman said, "He is trying to woo voters pledging various development projects."
Shahid has been violating the electoral code of conduct and working against the party by calling upon party leaders and activists to take a stand against the Awami League, according to the Kamalganj Upazila chairman aspirant.
"The fact that Shahid is engaging in different campaigning activities for his brother, from his own locality, is a sheer violation of his code of conduct as an MP as well," he said.
Complaints have been filed to the returning officer and district election officer, Rahman added.
MP Shahid denied the allegations.
"Even when I was present during different government meetings and ceremonies, I never campaigned for my brother. Besides, I never pressured any chairmen or members regarding election matters,” he said when reached over phone for a comment. "It is only normal that, as an MP, after coming to my own locality, chairman and union parishad members will come to visit me on different issues," he said.
He said, since he is not residing in his locality at the moment, there is no way he can campaign for his brother.
Shahid, however, accused Rahman of working against the Awami League.
"Starting from the district administration to intelligence agencies, everyone knows how Rafiqur [Rahman] went against his party during the Dec 30 polls," he said. "However, I never complained against that."