The formal campaigning for the 12th national parliamentary polls slated for January 7 began on December 18. Many candidates are now facing action taken by the ‘Election Inquiry Committee’ formed by the Election Commission (EC) in 300 constituencies to deal with pre-election irregularities.
Each constituency has an election inquiry committee consisting of judicial magistrates. These committees are issuing show-cause notice and sending recommendations to the Election Commission (EC) so that the EC can take action based on their inquiry.
The election inquiry committees are vigorously active in field. They are working on electoral code of conduct. A large number of candidates are facing action by inquiry committee for breach of electoral code of conduct during their mass campaign.
The inquiry committees have already issued show-cause notice to a large number of candidates of various constituencies. The candidates have to appear in person before the probe bodies to answer the complaints.
The action of the election inquiry committees has begun to show results. The candidates and their supporters are now refraining from violating the code. Many candidates are now carrying out election activities carefully. The action of the enquiry committees is forcing the candidates in 300 constituencies to strictly follow the electoral code of
conduct. According to the EC sources, the election inquiry committees have received a total of 211 complaints as of Friday since the announcement of the election schedule.
The inquiry committees have issued show-cause notices to 52 MPs of the incumbent parliament, 28 independent candidates and nine candidates from the Jatiya Party (JaPa). The inquiry committees are sending reports to the EC after investigating the allegations.
Ashok Kumar Debnath, secretary of the EC Secretariat, said the commission has received more than 120 reports from the inquiry committees so far. Recommendations have been made to warn those who have violated the electoral code of conduct for the first time. Some of the candidates will be summoned to the EC.
The election inquiry committees in their reports recommended legal actions against some of the candidates. They recommended filing a complaint with the judicial magistrate against Awami League candidate for Barguna-1 constituency Dhirendra Debnath as the enquiry committee found the allegation of breaching the electoral code of conduct against him to be true. In another incident, the inquiry committee recommended imposing fines on Dhirendra Debnath and two other local AL leaders.
However, the respective inquiry committees have recommended filing cases against AL leader in Pabna-3 constituency Mazedul Islam, and personal secretary of AL candidate for Gazipur-5 constituency Meher Afroz Chumki.
The EC has warned four AL candidates based on the recommendations made by the election inquiry committees on December 14. The candidates are-- Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi of Narayanganj-1, state minister for disaster management and relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman of Dhaka-19, Mrinal Kanti Das of Munshiganj-3 and Meher Afroz Chumki of Gazipur-5.
The election inquiry committee on Friday (December 21) issued a show-cause notice to former MP Talukdar Towhid Jung Murad, who is contesting as an independent candidate in Dhaka-19 constituency, for violating the electoral code of conduct.
According to the notice, the independent candidate held a rally by blocking the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Shimultala area in Savar, disrupting traffic and public movement.
The inquiry committee asked Talukdar Towhid Jung Murad to appear at the office of the Senior Assistant Judge and chairman of the committee for Dhaka-19 Zakir Hossain on December 26. The candidate has to submit a written explanation.
The inquiry committee has issued a show-cause notice to AL candidate for Sirajganj-6 constituency Chayan Islam on charge of threatening the agents of independent candidate Halimul Haque Miru. The AL candidate has been asked to give an explanation within Monday (December 24).
Election Inquiry Committee Officer of the constituency and Joint District and Sessions Judge Md Mamun-ur-Rashid issued the notice on Friday.
According to the notice, Halimul Haque Miru filed a written complaint against Chayan Islam. Shahjadpur upazila Awami League leader Nazrul Islam threatened to prevent ‘Eagle’ symbol’s polling agents on polling day.
Another inquiry committee has issued show-cause notice to AL candidate for Cumilla-6 constituency AKM Bahauddin as his followers allegedly assaulted a reporter and a cameraperson of a private TV channel on his order. AKM Bahauddin has been asked to appear before the inquiry committee on Sunday.
The inquiry committee in the Lalmonirhat-1 constituency has issued show-cause notice to chairman of Goddimari Union Parishad Abu Bakkar Siddiqui as supporters of independent candidate Ataur Rahman assaulted a journalist on Thursday night.
A show-cause notice was issued to AL presidium member and incumbent MP of Madaripur-2 constituency Shahjahan Khan’s son Asibur Rahman after a video of his speech went viral on social media for threatening supporters of rivals.
AL leader in Jamalpur Hatem Ali threatened the beneficiaries of the government allowances saying their allowance card will be cancelled if they fail to join the rallies of AL candidate Abul Kalam Azad from the Jamalpur-5 constituency. He too has been served show-cause notice.
As the election enquiry committee began their activities on November 26, these committees had also worked over violation of electoral code of conduct before December 18, the day of beginning of formal election campaign.
The inquiry committees submitted over 33 reports to the EC before December 18. Among the 33 candidates, 22 received warnings, seven faced legal actions, and no actions could be taken against four individuals.
Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib Khan said that all returning officers have been instructed to ensure that the electoral code of conduct is maintained stringently. Besides, executive magistrates and the election inquiry committees are working at the field level.
He, however, said the EC is taking actions on the basis of the reports from the election inquiry committees.
Before December 18, all kinds of posters, banner and festoons pasted at various places have been removed under the direction of the Magistrate, while the enquiry committees took action against many candidates for carrying out election campaign before the day.
The EC on December 9 summoned AL presidium member and the party candidate for Jhalakathi-2 constituency Amir Hossain Amu to explain his stand against the allegations of breaching electoral code of conduct. Later, the EC said that it was satisfied with the explanation given by the former industries minister. The EC summoned him following report of an election inquiry committee.
The inquiry committee for Shariatpur-2 constituency issued a show-cause notice to AL candidate for the constituency and deputy minister for water resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem. The notice was sent on December 14.
According to the notice, independent candidate for Shariatpur-2 Khaled Shawkat Ali filed a complaint with the returning officer and the deputy commissioner (DC) of Shariatpur against Enamul Hoque Shameem.
On December 7, Shameem held an election rally with 300-400 people in Haserkandi village at Ward-6 of Rajnagar union of Naria upazila – in violation of Section 12 of the Rules of Conduct of Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2008.
The deputy minister was asked to explain his stand to the Shariatpur-2 election inquiry committee chairman on December 18, either by appearing in-person or by sending a representative with the written explanation.
An inquiry committee in Rajshahi has served a show cause notice to state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam for violating the electoral code of conduct.
The electoral inquiry committee for the Rajshahi-1 constituency on December 15 issued a warning to film actress Mahiya Mahi. The actress on December 17 appeared before the committee headed by its Chairman Abu Sayeed and she apologised.
Mahi’s visit to different areas of the Char Ashariadaha union on Thursday prompted the committee to issue a show cause notice. She admitted that she was unaware of the electoral rules that aspirants cant seek votes before the allocation of symbols.
