Violation of election code of conduct against Zahid Maleque alleged

Manikganj Sadar upazila election chairman candidate and District Awami League's organising secretary Sudeb Kumar Saha has raised allegations of making religiously provocative remarks and violating election code of conduct against former health minister Zahid Maleque.

Addressing a press conference at Manikganj Press Club on Tuesday (May 7) afternoon, he alleged that former health minister Zahid Maleque has been conducting election campaign in favour of his paternal cousin and Sadar upazila parishad chairman candidate Israfil Hossain.
"Zahid Maleque has also threatened that the party leaders and workers will lose their positions if they don't work in favour of his nominated candidate. A serious reaction has created among the party leaders and workers due to the stand of a member of parliament in favour of a particular candidate. It has curtailed the freedom of local leaders and workers and they have become panic-strickened," he alleged.

Sudeb Kumar Saha also told the press conference that the former minister held a meeting with imams, muezzins and madrasa teachers of Manikganj Sadar upazila at Shuvro Centre Garpara on Monday morning where he made "objectionable and provocative remarks." As a result, religious harmony is being affected and distrust among the minority community has created.

"Zahid Maleque has also been assuring voters of implemeting different projects along with the government engineers which is a gross violation of electoral code of conduct. The ruling party lawmaker has also been exerting pressure on the current and former public representatives to work for his cousin in the election campaign. As a result, the public representatives now feel helpless. Not only it. Zahid Maleque MP has also forced voters to take oath to cast ballots for his brother which has already gone viral on social media," he said.

Expressing regret, upazila chairman candidate Sudeb Saha said he worked as the chief coordinator for Zahid Maleque at several unions in the last Jatiya Sangsad election. "But, he is now undermining us for his cousin. I worked as the Manikganj district Chhatra League and Jubo League presidents. I also served as the organising secretary of the district Awami League twice, secretary of the district sports organisation and president of the chamber of commerce thrice."