VC, govt officials campaigning for AL candidate

Some government officials and the vice chancellor (VC) of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology were seen carrying out electioneering for the ruling Awami League's mayor candidate in Sylhet city polls.

VC Farid Uddin Ahmed went on to say that it would be a "disgrace" for them, should AL candidate Badaruddin Ahmad Kamran lose despite having support from the regime.

Such campaign by public servants or those who hold office of benefits are repugnant to electoral code of conduct and of course professional ethics.

The SUST vice chancellor accompanied by the university's registrar, accounts director and some other officials joined a meeting held at a restaurant in Ambarkhana area of Sylhet around 8:00pm Saturday.

The VC, in his speech during the meeting urged all to vote for the AL mayor.

More than 50 senior officials of different government organisations including the principal and the civil surgeon of Sylhet Osmani Medical College, the registrar and the deputy registrar of Sylhet Agriculture University took part in the election campaign in favour of the AL candidate.

Election experts called such electioneering by government officials as breach of electoral rules and violation of service rules.

Beneficiaries of the government's activities, officials or employees of the republic cannot participate in any kind of campaign in polling areas ahead of elections, according to sub-section 2 of section 22 of the City Corporation Election Code of Conducts.

Also, the rule says, any competing candidate or anyone on his behalf cannot use any government instrument, vehicles or any other government facilities for electioneering.

In the meeting with the banner inscribed “Electioneering meeting in support of Badaruddin Ahmad Kamran”, the VC said, “It is necessary to coordinate the election centrally. There is no scope to relax that we have Awami League in the government.”

“Despite having support from the government, losing the election will be a disgrace for us,” Farid Uddin Ahmed added.

In accordance with the rules pertinent to the university as well, teachers and employees of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology cannot take part in any political activities nor can they officially get involved with any political parties.

The principal of Osmani medical college, Murshed Ahmed Chowdhury, earlier, went with the AL candidate while submitting nomination paper on 28 June.

When he was told it was ‘violation of election codes of conducts’, the principal claimed that he had gone to the election office to get his son’s voter identity card at the time.

Murshed Ahmed Chowdhury, however, changed his strategy now. Instead of participating in the campaign directly, he was seeking votes for the AL candidate holding meeting in the name of promoting the government’s success in the health sector.

The principal with other officials distributed pamphlets and campaigned for the AL candidate in Chouhatta and Osmani Medical College area after the 18 July meeting.

The SUST vice chancellor, however, denied the allegation of campaigning for the AL candidate.

“I went to the meeting to deliver a speech on economics. Neither Kamran was present at the meeting nor was there any banner. I did not go there to campaign for the Awami League. I will never do that as well,” VC said.

Asked about it, Badrul Islam, the registrar of Sylhet Agriculture University, said, “Kamran is a man of progressive ideology. I went there as a well wisher. I did not participate in any campaign.”

Several other officials also claimed that they did not carry out any campaign for the AL mayoral candidate.

Returning Officer of the city election Alimuzzaman said he did not receive any such complaint.

“We will take actions if necessary,” he added.