The ruling Awami League鈥檚 Companiganj upazila unit president, Abdul Quader Mirza, also the incumbent mayor of the Basurhat municipality, on Thursday in a leaked video was seen asking voters not to go to polling centres if they did not vote for his favourites.
Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader鈥檚 younger brother Quader Mirza鈥檚 video went viral on social media as he addressed a rally at Ward 2 of Charparboti Union.
The rally was organised on Thursday afternoon in support of Companiganj upazila parishad chairman candidate Mohammad Golam Sharif Chowdhury Pipul.
Targeting voters in the one minute and 18 seconds video, Quader Mirza said that people could come to the polling centres if they cast their votes for three candidates present in the rally.
The candidates are running for different posts in the upazila elections.
鈥業 cannot take its responsibility if there are any problems later,鈥� he said, apparently warning voters of the consequences of going against the candidates he supported.聽聽
Claiming himself as a straightforward speaker, Quader Mirza said, 鈥榊ou will get in trouble. Do you realise what I mean?鈥�
Reminding voters for staying safe in the next five years, he advised the voters to stay at home and sleep instead of coming to polling centres.
Abdul Quader Mirza could not be reached over the phone for his comment despite repeated attempts.
He did not even reply to the text message sent to his mobile.聽
Additional district magistrate of Noakhali Muhammad Ismail, also the returning officer of Companiganj upazila, told 抖阴精品 that he was yet to notice the video that went viral.
鈥業f any complaint is lodged in this regard, we will take action following the Election Commission鈥檚 rules,鈥� he said, adding that they would look into the matter.聽
Quader Mirza engaged in the election campaign before the allocation of election symbols violating the EC rules.
He said that there was no scope for launching campaign before the allocation of symbols in the polls as symbols of the upazila was scheduled to allocate on May 13.
AL Companiganj upazila unit general secretary Mizanur Rahman, also an upazila chairman candidate, told 抖阴精品 on Thursday that Quader Mirza was continuously intimidating voters in the upazila elections.
鈥業 have seen the video. He [Quader Mirza] created obstacles to me to campaign in the elections. I cannot move in many areas in the upazila. Quader Mirza is also intimidating people personally and in mass programmes as well,鈥� said Mizanur, also a former chairman of the upazila.
He alleged that Quader Mirza on Friday also threatened people that he would break legs of those who would cast votes except his candidates.
鈥楺uader Mirza is saying the people that he would not spare them if they disobey his directives,鈥� Mizanur added.聽
The election in the Companiganj upazila is scheduled to be held on May 29.
Three candidates are contesting the post of chairman.
They are upazila parishad former chairman and AL Companiganj upazila unit Awami League general secretary Mizanur Rahman, AL youth wing Juba League upazila unit former convener Mohammad Golam Sharif Chowdhury and expatriate in the United States, Omar Ali.
Apart from the chairman candidate Mohammad Golam Sharif Chowdhury, Quader Mirza is allegedly supporting vice-chairman candidate Jasim Uddin and women vice-chairman candidate Parvin Akther, according to chairman candidate Mizanur.
