Photo: Messenger
A week after the announcement of the 12th National Assembly elections schedule, campaign materials such as billboards, posters, and festoons of candidates remain prominently displayed in Pabna. The delay in removing these materials is attributed to the candidates not having received instructions from the Election Commission, preventing them from initiating the cleanup.
Nomination aspirants explain that their focus on securing party nominations in Dhaka has hindered their ability to address the removal of campaign materials
The campaign materials extend to various locations, including city traffic intersections, zero point, Zilla Parishad, in front of the municipality, central bus terminal, Gachpara Bypass, and Edward College Gate.
The visuals are dominated by banners, festoons, and billboards of ruling party nominees, including individuals seeking nomination in Pabna-5 seat such as Ghulam Farooq Prince, Arshad Adnan Roni, Mazharul Islam Manik, and Sohail Hasan Shaheen. Candidates from other parties like Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Workers Party also contribute to the display.
The Election Commission had issued directives on November 15 for local authorities, including city corporations, municipalities, and union councils, to remove campaign materials. Despite the passage of a week, Pabna has not implemented this instruction.
Leaders such as Rezaul Rahim Lal, President of Pabna District Awami League, and Abdul Kader Khan Kadar, President of the district Jatiya Party, explain their inability to act promptly due to their engagements in Dhaka for party nomination work. They suggest that major parties should take the lead in removing materials, followed by others.
Zakir Hossain, seeking nomination from the Bangladesh Works Party, acknowledges the delay but emphasizes his commitment to removing the materials soon. District Awami League advisor Abdul Matin Khan stresses that candidates should adhere to the Election Commission's instructions.
Concerns are raised by Abdus Salam, the general secretary of Pabna district branch of Publicity Campaign for Good Governance (SUPR), who points out that the failure to remove materials promptly may undermine the Election Commission's credibility and public confidence.
Pabna Press Club President ABM Fazlur Rahman condemns the disobedience to Election Commission instructions, characterizing it as an abuse of party power and a violation of electoral conduct rules. The Executive Engineer of Pabna Municipality, Nazmul Haque, mentions not having received instructions from the Election Commission and assures that removal efforts will commence upon receipt.
Messenger/Fameema
