Sylhet-1: CPB candidate on hunger strike alleging no 'level playing field'

Ahead of the upcoming national parliament election, Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB) candidate for Sylhet-1 (City-Sadar) constituency, Anwar Hossain Sumon, has begun a protest hunger strike, alleging 'biased behaviour' by the local administration and a lack of a 'level playing field'.

He began the hunger strike at the open stage of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar in the city's Chowhatta area from Sunday morning, February 8, along with party leaders and activists.

Anwar Hossain Sumon announced that he would continue this protest hunger strike until he receives specific assurances from the administration.

The candidate with the CPB's 'Sickle' symbol, Mohammad Anwar Hossain Sumon, alleged that while his campaign billboards were removed citing violations of the code of conduct, the same rules were not being applied to other candidates. He said at least two candidates in Sylhet Metropolitan City had placed two to three hundred billboards in each ward in violation of the code.

Furthermore, he alleged that despite multiple irregularities such as putting up festoons on electric poles and trees, violating size specifications, and putting posters on CNG-run auto-rickshaws, no action had been taken by the administration or the Returning Officer.

He had announced at a press conference at the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar premises on Thursday, February 5, that he would begin a hunger strike from today if the administration did not ensure a level playing field within '24 hours'.

Incidentally, this CPB candidate initially blamed 'miscreants' for the removal of one of his billboards at the city's Tilaghar Point. However, he later stated that police had removed it because it was a coloured billboard.

On this matter, Anwar Hossain Sumon said he had legally installed 20 billboards in the electoral area. Upon reviewing the election code of conduct, he confirmed that clause 14 of the rules does not contain any instruction prohibiting billboards from being coloured. Similarly, the restrictions under various sub-clauses of clause 7 of the rules regarding banners and festoons do not apply to billboards.

He further stated that after verifying these issues, the relevant department was informed in writing, and the billboards were installed on January 22 only after confirmation from the administration. Even then, his billboards were removed by police without any prior notice or warning. Initially, he thought miscreants had done it. Later, he confirmed that the billboards were removed by the administration itself.