IAB candidate fined in Sonargaon for electoral code violation 

 
SONARGAON, N'GANJ, Jan 10: A mobile court on Saturday fined a parliamentary candidate in Sonargaon Upazila of the district for violating the election code of conduct.

The fine was imposed on Ghulam Masih, a Bangladesh Islami Andolan (IAB)-backed candidate contesting the Narayanganj-3 constituency. He was penalised for conducting election campaigning in breach of the prescribed rules.

According to officials, the violation occurred around noon on Saturday at Munshirail area under Sonargaon municipality. Hundreds of women were reportedly gathered at Ghulam Masih's private residence, known as Poddar Bari, under the leadership of his wife Begum Jhinuk. During the gathering, which was described as a religious training (talim) programme, participants allegedly sought votes in favour of the "hand fan" election symbol.

Executive Magistrate Fairooz Tasnim said the allegations were proven during the inspection. "We found evidence of vote solicitation in favour of MP candidate Ghulam Masih during the talim programme. As the act violated the election code of conduct, a fine of Tk 10,000 was imposed," he added.