BNP lawmakers on Monday lodged complain before the Election Commission against Petrobangla chairman Prof Hossain Mansur, accusing him of violating electoral code of conduct by providing gas connections. A seven-member parliamentary team of BNP led by party joint secretary general Mahbub Uddin Khokon, MP on Monday met with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed to lodge the allegation.
The BNP lawmakers submitted the complaint written by Tofazzal Hossain Tapu, the election agent of 18-party backed candidate Mosaddeque Hossain Bulbul.
Talking to reporters, Mahbub Uddin Khokon said they lodged the complaint on behalf of the opposition lawmakers not on behalf of BNP.
In the complaint, the BNP lawyers alleged that the Petrobangla chairman inaugurated household gas connections in Rajshahi on Friday where Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election is being held.
Providing gas connections was an election pledge of the outgoing mayor of RCC AHM Khairuzzaman Chowdhury Liton. Following the function the supporters of Liton brought out a procession thanking the government, the BNP lawmakers also alleged.
The BNP MPs claimed that it is the violation of election code of conduct.
They also alleged that Fazle Hossain Badsha, the election coordinator of election campaigning in favour of the outgoing mayor attended the function and sought vote in favour of Liton.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters, the CEC said the Returning Officer has already served show cause letters against the Patrobangla chairman and Manager Rajshahi.
The next course of action will be taken after receiving their replies, he added.
The CEC said BNP lawmakers demanded deployment of army during the RCC election but he thought no such situation has been arisen to deploy army. He however stressed that army can be deployed at any time if the situation demands.
The other members of the team are Abdul Momen Talukder, ZIM Mostafa Ali, AKM Hafizur Rahman, Golam Mostafa, Rehana Akhter Ranu and Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papiya.
-With The Independent input
