Speedy disposal of election disputes urged

Speakers at seminar yesterday noted that many of the election agents of the MPs have not yet submitted statements of their election expenses, which is a gross violation of the electoral law. They also called for speedy disposal of the election disputes.

The Legislative Support Service Project of Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (MSS) organised the seminar titled 'Status of Election Disputes and Return of Election Expenses', says a press release.

MSS has organised the seminar to share the findings of FEMA observation on the post-election disputes as part of its long-term programme for observation of election 2001.

MSS President and FEMA Secretary General Feroz M Hassan said, "It has been observed in the past that in the absence of a time frame in the disposal of election petition, relief came very late or not at all to the aggrieved party during the term of Parliament."

MSS has consistently advocated setting a shorter time limit for the disposal of the election petitions, which will be an important reform of the present electoral laws in the country, he added.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hena, who moderated the seminar, said that unless the Election Commission is not adequately empowered, as he experienced, it is not possible to address these issues.

The seminar brought together Members of Parliament, prominent politicians, leaders of the civil society, academics and researchers.

Presenting the keynote paper, Advocate Shamsuddin Ahmed, Law Officer of MSS/FEMA, said that 31 election petitions have been filed in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.

Thirteen of the petitions have been dismissed and remaining petitions are being processed by the court for hearing, he added.

A number of recommendations were also placed in the seminar.

Faruque Khan MP, Rahamat Ali MP, Md. Shahiduzzaman MP, Saifuddin Ahmed Manik of Gono Forum and the petitionersShudhangshu Sekhar Halder, AK Faezul Haque, AFM Fakhrul Islam Munshi of AL, Md. Kamruzzaman of Jamaat, and FEMA Vice- Chairperson Munira khan took part in the discussion.