The ‘Election Inquiry Committee’ formed by the Election Commission (EC) in 300 constituencies to deal with pre-election irregularities has been continuing duties to ensure that the candidates in the 12th general elections follow the electoral code of conduct.
There is an election inquiry committee in each constituency consisting of judicial magistrates. These committees are issuing show-cause notice and sending recommendations to the EC for taking action.
Many candidates have already faced legal action from the EC based on investigation reports of the election inquiry committees.
The election enquiry committees began their activities on November 18. These committees had worked over violation of the electoral code of conduct before December 18, the day of beginning of formal election campaigning, while the committees are now working to enforce electoral code during the campaign for the upcoming elections scheduled for January 7.
Over a month, the inquiry committees issued about 300 show-cause notices to candidates of various parties, including the ruling Awami League, for violating the election code of conduct.
The law wing of the EC Secretariat on Thursday (December 28) reported that the election enquiry committees issued 296 show-cause notices till the date.
EC sources said that the maximum number of 86 show-cause notices were issued in Dhaka region, while 16 in Rangpur region, 41 in Cumilla region, 17 in Faridpur region, 20 in Chattogram region, 14 in Sylhet region, 22 in Barishal region, 17 in Khulna region, 34 in Rajshahi region and 32 in Mymensingh region.
After December 28, the ‘Election Inquiry Committee’ issued several other show-cause notices to several other candidates.
The election inquiry committee for Rajshahi-2 constituency on Friday (December 29, 2023) issued show-cause notice to independent candidate in the constituency Shafiqur Rahman Badsha for violating the code of conduct.
Chairman of election inquiry committee and joint district and sessions judge of Rajshahi Bikash Kumar Boshak issued the notice. The MP candidate has been asked to submit a written explanation on December 31 (tomorrow).
Independent candidate Shafiqur Rahman Badsha has been accused of damaging the poster of 14-party candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha and claiming him Awami League candidate in miking.
Earlier on Thursday, an election inquiry committee issued a show-cause notice to Awami League candidate for Lalmonirhat-2 constituency and social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed on the charge of violating the electoral code of conduct.
The action came following a written complaint filed by Golam Martuza Hanif, a supporter of an independent candidate, to the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Lalmonirhat.
The election inquiry committee’s chairman and senior assistant judge Tahmidur Rahman issued the notice. As per the show cause notice, Nuruzzaman Ahmed will have to show reasons by 11:00 am on December 31.
The complainant -- Golam Martuza Hanif, a former chairman of Bhotmari Union Parishad and former vice president of Kaliganj upazila Awami League -- is working for independent candidate Sirajul Haque, the district AL senior vice president.
In the complaint, he alleged that Nuruzzaman Ahmed held an electoral meeting at Chamtahat in Kaliganj on December 22, where he threatened to kill him.
On the other hand, the election inquiry committee of Pabna-3 constituency has issued show-cause notices to nine teachers from different institutions over allegations of campaigning for Awami League candidate Md Mokbul Hossain.
Joint district and sessions judge of Pabna Md Tajul Islam on behalf of the committee issued the notices following allegations raised by independent candidate Abdul Hamid Master. The committee asked the teachers to appear before the committee on December 31.
The notices have been served on Md Alamgir Hossain, assistant teacher of Madar Baria High School; Hasanuzzaman Shopon, assistant teacher of Sultanpur Government Primary School; Abdul Subhan, assistant teacher of Khanmorich Government Primary School; Rafikul Islam of Chakdigar Govt Primary School; Mizanur Rahman, of Chandipur Govt Primary School; Shahidul Islam, assistant teacher of Sultanpur Adarsha High School; Headmistress Rawshon Ali and teacher Ziaur Rahman, of Pukurpar Ideal High School; and Faruk Ahmed, assistant teacher of Mondotosh Lower Secondary School; of Bhangura upazila of Pabna under the Pabna-3 constituency.
Meanwhile, the EC has already taken action against many candidates based on the inquiry reports submitted by the election inquiry committees.
The commission on Wednesday (December 27, 2023) fined ruling Awami League candidate for Cumilla-6 constituency and incumbent MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar Tk. 1 lakh for violating the electoral code of conduct. AL candidate for Barguna-1 constituency Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu was also fined Tk 50,000.
The commission led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal pronounced the verdict after a hearing on the allegations.
Earlier, AKM Bahauddin Bahar and Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu appeared before the EC and provided explanations for their acts of violating the electoral code of conduct. The AL candidates received three separate show-cause notices from the election enquiry committee each for breaching the electoral codes.
The EC on Sunday decided to sue two Awami League candidates-- Mostafizur Rahman of Chattogram-16 constituency and Abdul Hyee of Jhenaidah-1 constituency-- for violating the electoral code of conduct.
As per the EC’s decision, Banshkhali Election Officer Harun Mollah on Tuesday filed a case against Mustafizur Rahman of Chattogram-16 constituency. The court issued a summon against the accused and ordered him to appear before it by January 3.
Earlier, the EC had warned many AL candidates based on the recommendations made by the election inquiry committees. Some of 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.