Jamaat leader Shahjahan Chowdhury served show-cause notice after video goes viral

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami–nominated candidate for Chattogram-15 constituency Shahjahan Chowdhury has been served a show-cause notice over allegations of publicly seeking votes for a specific election symbol at a feast event.

The notice was issued on Wednesday, January 14, by Rupan Kumar Dash, chairman of the Electoral Enquiry and Adjudication Committee for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and joint district and sessions judge of Chattogram, on charges of violating the election code of conduct.

According to the allegation, at an annual feast organised in Ward No. 3 of Barahatia Union in Lohagara upazila, Barahatia Union Jamaat-e-Islami amir Md Jasim Uddin publicly sought votes using the scale symbol.

At that time, he asked for votes in favour of Jamaat candidate Shahjahan Chowdhury. A video of the incident later went viral on social media platform Facebook.

Following the video going viral, Chattogram South District BNP joint convener Ashab Uddin Chowdhury submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission regarding the matter.

The show-cause notice states that delivering election speeches and seeking votes for a specific symbol before symbol allocation violates Rules 3 and 18 of the Political Parties and Candidates Code of Conduct, 2025, which constitutes a breach of electoral conduct.

Shahjahan Chowdhury has been instructed to appear in person and submit a written explanation before the chairman of the Electoral Enquiry and Adjudication Committee for Chattogram-15 constituency at the temporary office on January 19 at 11:30am.