Election Commissioner (EC) Abdur Rahmanel Masud has stated that no one will be spared, if found to be carrying dual citizenship or having defaulted on loans, even if the matter comes to light after they are elected to parliament.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at his office in the Election Commission headquarters in the capital’s Agargaon on Monday afternoon.
He said that if evidence of concealment is found, action will be taken even after the election.
Masud said, “During elections, those accused of being loan defaulters contact banks and reschedule their loans. According to the rescheduling, they gain legitimacy, but after rescheduling, they do not continue payment. In this regard, Article 66(4) of the Bangladesh Constitution states that if such ineligibility is discovered after the election, the matter will be sent to the Election Commission, and the commission will take action accordingly. But often, the matter is not sent to parliament. As a result, the loan defaulter remains in office.”
He said, “This arrangement is not beneficial for the nation. Therefore, it has been newly added to the RPO that even if someone wins the election as a loan defaulter or having any other disqualification, the Election Commission can take action against them on its own initiative.”
Regarding dual citizenship, he said, “If false information is provided regarding dual citizenship, the Election Commission will take action against them. Their membership in parliament will be revoked.”
When asked if there is any lack of cooperation from the government or pressure from any political party, he said, “No, I have not faced any pressure. We are performing our constitutional duties with great independence. To ensure a level playing field, the chairman of a major party has returned from abroad after a long time. Going home is his fundamental right. We cannot restrict anyone’s movement. He will go to visit a grave, and we cannot stop that either. However, to maintain electoral equality, a request was made from the commission for him to undertake this programme after 21 February.”
He went on to add that a change is coming in the nation’s political culture as they immediately accepted the matter.
He said, “The ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami called for the removal of all posters, and they have indeed removed the posters. Both of these are positive aspects for us. I commend both parties on behalf of the Election Commission. They are fully cooperating with us. We firmly believe that with their cooperation, we will be able to conduct a good election.”
Urging voters to come to the polling centres, EC Masud said, “Please come to the polling centres. Vote and elect your preferred candidate. The law-and-order situation and the voting environment are conducive to the election. The schedule was announced about a month and a half ago with no major incidents having occurred since then.”
When asked about the appeals and movements by various parties and organizations demanding to keep the Jatiya Party out of the election, he said, ‘We have created equal opportunities for all registered political parties. There is no legal barrier for them to participate in the election.’
When asked whether there is a risk of delay or chaos in announcing the results since the results of the national parliamentary election and the referendum will be counted and announced together, he said, “No, I do not believe so. In local government elections, votes for Union Parishad chairmen, members, and reserved women’s seats are held on the same day. If three votes can be counted separately there, why not here?”
