Dhaka, Dec 18 (Just News): Civil society platform Shujan (Shushanar Janniya Nagorik) has criticised ruling Awami League's general secretary Obaidul Quader for his comments on coming Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) elections.
Shujan president Hafiz Uddin Khan on Monday regretted that Quader's made insinuation that the government could manipulate the elections, should it want to do so.
“I saw in today’s newspapers that general secretary of a political party has said Rangpur City Corporation polls will be free from interference. Does it mean that if they want, they can interfere with the elections and this time they are not doing so showing some kindness?” he said at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
The Shujan president called this kind of attitude as "unfair and illegal".
Hafiz Uddin Khan said, “We want Rangpur City Corporation elections to be in a free and fair manner to elect good persons.”
Shujan’s secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar disclosed the information about 284 candidates including seven mayoral candidates in the RCC polls.
Quoting the candidates' declarations, Shujan said 164 out of 284 candidates have educational qualifications of secondary school certificate or below. Only 61 candidates have either Bachelor's or Master's degrees.
Four out of seven mayoral candidates were implicated in criminal cases. Abdul Kuddus is accused in a criminal case while other two candidates -- Mostafizur Rahman and Sarfuddin Ahmed -- were earlier sued in criminal cases. Another candidate Kawsar Zaman is accused in a pending case and he faced law suits in the past as well.
Also, 102 out of 212 word councillor candidates are either accused in cases or were sued in the past.
(Justnews/ys/2100hr)
