EC told to settle charges against Afil, Monirul

The High Court has ordered the Election Commission to resolve within two weeks the code-of-conducts violation charges against two ruling Awami League’s MP candidates from Jessore.

The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar issued the order on Thursday after disposing of two writ petitions filed by the candidates.

Sheikh Afil Uddin was elected without contest from Jessore-1 and Monirul Islam was unofficially elected from Jessore-2.

The gazette notification declaring them elected is yet to be published as the charges against them are not yet disposed of.

The Election Commission had earlier postponed a hearing on the allegations following the petitions.

The High Court now sent the matter to the commission for settlement.

If the allegations against the MPs are proved, the commission can scrap their candidacy.

M Quamrul Haque Siddiqui argued for Afil and Monirul. Lawyer Md Bazlur Hasan assisted him.

Hasan told bdnews24.com the court had disposed of both the petitions.

“The court in its observation had directed the commission to resolve the charges in two weeks. The gazette-issue will also have to be resolved within that time,” Hasan said.

On Jan 1, a polling agent of a contestant in Jessore had complained to the Election Commission against the two Awami League candidates.

The electoral probe committee submitted its report to the commission on Jan 3 saying that it found the allegation true.

On Dec 30 last year, the AL MP candidates had publically said 100 party activists would occupy each polling station to ensure the victory of ‘boat’ symbol.

The commission had issued show cause notices to two candidates on Jan 7 asking them to explain within 10 days why their candidature should not be scrapped.

The duo replied to the notices on Jan 15.

The commission then set a hearing date to resolve the matter.

But the hearing was not held as the candidates filed writ petitions in the High Court.