The Election Commission has filed a case against Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad in Lalmonirhat for failing to submit the details of his election expenses. Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman filed the case at Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station on Thursday night. Sadar Upazila Election Officer Abtab-uz-Zaman confirmed the development. The returning officer and the district election officer were not available for comment. Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge HM Mahfuzur Rahman said a case was filed against the JP chairman on Thursday night. “Another case was filed against the JSD candidate of the same constituency. We’re investigating it,” he said. Ershad was defeated in the Lalmonirhat 1 constituency in the Jan 5 national elections. On May 18, the Election Commission ordered the returning officer to file cases against the two candidates for not submitting the returns of their election expenses. Ershad had announced that he would boycott the Jan 5 polls just after filing nominations from three constituencies — Dhaka-17, Lalmonirhat-1, and Rangpur-3. Then he was hospitalised in a dramatic development after he complained of physical discomfort. The EC rejected his application for withdrawal of nominations. It only cancelled his candidature for the Dhaka-17 seat. Ershad won the Rangpur-3 constituency. In the Rangpur election, he spent Tk 38,500, the returns for which he has submitted. His party emerged as the Opposition party with the BNP and its allies boycotting the polls. Ershad was made special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after taking oath. The JP chief is facing several cases, including the Maj Gen Abul Manjur murder case and Radar purchase case. The charges against him in this latest case carry a prison term of two to seven-year if convicted. – bdnews24.com
