EC orders departmental case against Thakurgaon teacher who campaigned for BNP candidate after show-cause notice

The Election Commission (EC) has ordered a departmental case against an assistant teacher at a government primary school in Thakurgaon over allegations of taking part in campaigning for a BNP candidate in violation of the electoral code of conduct. The accused teacher, Zulfikar Rahman, is to face a case for quick disposal, and the Commission is to be informed of the action taken.

The letter, signed on Wednesday (28 October) by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain of the Election Conduct-2 wing, was sent to the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education. It directed necessary action under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Zulfikar Rahman is an assistant teacher at Arazi Dakshin Bothina Government Primary School in Ruhia upazila of Thakurgaon. He is the son of the late Soleman Master of Chameshwari Chowdhuryhat area in Senua union.

According to the EC letter, Zulfikar Rahman campaigned for the BNP candidate in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election and also inaugurated the candidate's election office in Senua union. He spoke at various election programmes, recorded videos of those programmes and published them on his own Facebook account. The letter said an inquiry by the Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee also found the allegations to be true.

The letter said that under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and relevant election laws, government employees have no scope to take part in political activities or campaign for any candidate. Even so, Zulfikar Rahman was alleged to have openly campaigned and expressed support for a political party's candidate.

Earlier, the Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee issued a show-cause notice to Zulfikar Rahman on 13 October over the same campaigning allegation. On a complaint by Rajiur Rahman, president of Jamaat-e-Islami's Thakurgaon municipal youth wing, he was asked to appear in person and give a written explanation.

Later, on 19 October, the teacher submitted a written reply to the court of Civil Judge Tosikul Alam of Pirganj Judge Court, the committee's officer in charge. He described his actions as an unintentional mistake, pledged not to do such work in future, and applied for exemption from the allegation.

Even after giving that reply, however, a statement published on his Facebook account drew discussion. In it he wrote that Zulfikar cannot be stopped this way, using language about burning every day and every moment on the battlefield at double speed and storm pace.

The Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee's order said a review of Zulfikar Rahman's Facebook account found a video message published on 30 September. The video was published with the caption 'By-election Thakurgaon-1, vote for Mirza Faisal Amin with the sheaf of paddy'.

The order noted that the date for allocating symbols in that constituency was 8 October. The allegation was therefore that he campaigned for a candidate even before symbols were allocated. In the committee's observation, these activities conflict with rules 21(a), 21(b) and 18 of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2025.

District Election Officer and Thakurgaon-1 Returning Officer Kamrul Islam said they received the Election Commission's letter last Wednesday. It directed the Director General of Primary Education to file a departmental case against the teacher. He said the letter was informed to the relevant higher authorities later because of the busyness of election work.

District Primary Education Officer Mofazzal Hossain said a show-cause notice had been issued to Zulfikar Rahman over the election-rule violation allegation and, to his knowledge, the teacher had replied to it. He said he had not yet received the EC letter ordering a departmental case, though he had heard about it. Attempts to contact Zulfikar Rahman for comment were unsuccessful.