Staff Reporter:
Awami League (AL) nominated candidate Motaherul Islam Chowdhury of Chattogram-12 (Patiya) constituency has applied to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for transferring Officer in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Nezam Uddin of the local police station, bringing an allegation of working for the Whip and incumbent lawmaker Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury.
In the written complaint sent on Thursday, Motaherul mentioned, “I observed that the incumbent lawmaker of my constituency, Shamsul, got the OC transferred by his choice on November 12, using power to win in the election.”
House of OC Nezam’s maternal grandfather-in-law is at Habilasdwip Union under the upazila, and he is a distant relative of the whip, said Motaherul.
He mentioned that since he got the party nomination, OC Nezam has been threatening the leaders and activists of the AL and its associate organisations.
On December 5, police protection was provided to the whip in almost every area on his way to appear before the inquiry committee regarding the violation of the electoral code of conduct, he said.
“OC Nezam also rushed to the whip’s village home at Rashidabad in Shobhandandi after the latter went there after appearing before the committee. The OC had a secret meeting with the whip there,” alleged the AL candidate.
“On December 1, my party activist Ashraful Alam Sajjad was injured in an attack in the Shobhandandi area following provocation by the whip’s brothers. He (Sajjad) was admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.”
The OC didn’t take any action even after lodging a complaint with the police station, said Motaherul.
He further alleged that, “After observing the movement of OC Nezam, I understood that he would implement the election agenda of independent candidate Shamsul. I think a free, fair, and impartial election is not possible for the OC.”
“I am requesting the transfer of the OC for the sake of the participatory election,” the candidate mentioned in the letter.
Motaherul, also president of the Chattogram South district unit of AL, said he sent the letters to the CEC, returning officer, and DIG, among others.
“An OC was appointed at Patiya police station around three months ago. The OC was suddenly transferred on November 12 just before the announcement of the election schedule without any complaint, and there is intervention by the whip,” he said.
Asked about the complaint, the OC Nezam claimed they were performing duties according to the electoral code of conduct.
“Allegations made to CEC are not true, and we are not giving protocol to anyone,” he claimed, adding that the complaint of injuring one was not true.
