Staff Reporter :
Election Commissioner Md. Rafiqul Islam has said appropriate actions will be taken against fugitive Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of BNP, for interviewing nomination aspirants of his party through video conference, if law permits.
“We will take appropriate actions against him if law permits. If there is no such law, we will sit to discuss the Election Commission’s duty to this effect. In this case, someone must file specific complaint to Commission along with necessary testimonies,” Rafiqul Islam told journalists at his office in the Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday.
Journalists have raised the issue to obtain the Commission’s remarks after Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader asked the EC to look into it.
“Can a fugitive take interviews of party men willing to contest the polls,” Quader asked the EC requesting for lawful explanations.
AL Presidium Member Lt. Col (Rtd) Faruk Khan filed a complaint over BNP Acting Chief Tarique Rahman’s participation in the party nomination process yesterday evening.
Faruk Khan told reporters that Tarique Rahman’s involvement with the BNP’s nomination process is clear violation of election rules.
On October 14, 2018, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced 19 people to death and BNP Acting Chief Tarique Rahman along with 18 others to life imprisonment in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2003.
Tarique Rahman, who is now exiled in London, joined the video conference at Gulshan office of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Sunday and interviewed aspirants for contesting the 11th Parliamentary election scheduled to be held on December 30.
The ruling AL, BNP, Oikyafront, Juktafront and Jatiya Party are in process to finalise nominees for the Parliamentary polls.
The last date of filing nomination papers is November 28.
Meanwhile, Rafiqul Islam also said the Commission will look into the repressive cases against BNP men.
“Police administration will be directed not to harass BNP men if the commission found the cases were really repressive,” he said, adding that he didn’t see the list of repressive cases submitted by BNP to the EC. He said the election climate is harmed a bit due to repressive cases.
