LDA demands removal of CEC
Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) yesterday called on the President to constitute Supreme Judicial Council to investigate allegations of corruption against Election Commission officials and remove them from their positions.
They also said at a rally that Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other commissioners are "guilty of moral turpitude", as ballot stuffing took place on the night prior to December 30 national election, and there were allegations of corruption against them.
Leaders and activists yesterday went to besiege the Election Commission with the demand of the CEC's resignation. Police barred them in front of Department of Environment, about 500 metres west of the EC office at Agargaon.
Barricaded by police, activists of LDA, a platform of eight left-leaning organisations, held an impromptu rally there.
LDA coordinator and Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Abdullah Al Kafee Ratan urged President Abdul Hamid to form Supreme Judicial Council to (SJC) investigate allegations of corruption against the commission.
"You [President] should remove them [commissioner]. CEC and other commissioners are guilty of moral turpitude, it is now your moral duty to remove the commissioners from their post," he said.
The SJC comprises of the chief justice and two other senior-most judges of the Appellate Division to probe the allegations against SC judges, the Election Commission and other constitutional bodies. They can recommend removal of individuals if any allegations are proven.
Leaders speaking at the rally said that 42 eminent citizens had sent a letter to the President and urged for forming SJC to investigate allegations of corruption and other misconduct against the EC.
Leaders said in the letter, the citizens mentioned that members of the EC, under KM Nurul Huda's leadership, have committed misconduct and irregularities, including spending Tk 2 crore for delivering speeches as "special speakers" on the occasion of national and upazila elections and spending Tk 4 crore in recruiting staffers for the Commission.
Three commissioners have also allegedly been using cars in violation of relevant rules, they added.
Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal leader Khalequzzaman Lipan, Revolutionary Workers Party leader Akbar Khan, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) AKM Jahirul Haque, Ganasamhati Andolon leader Bacchu Bhuiyan and Gonotantrik Biplobi Party leader Shahidul Islam Sabuz spoke at the rally.
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