The Ruling Awami League has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission on BNP acting chief Tarique Rahman, a fugitive convict, screening polls aspirants through video conferencing from London.
It has urged the commission to act immediately claiming Tarique’s participation in the polls process violates the existing laws and the electoral code of conduct.
A party delegation, led by Presidium member Faruk Khan, handed a written complain to the EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed on Sunday (Nov 18).
Emerging from the EC office, Khan said, “Like the people of the country, we are gravely concerned seeing the recent violations of the electoral code of conduct.
“Fugitive and convict Tarique is interviewing the polls candidates through video conference, which is a clear violation of the law as well as the court’s order. We wrote to the EC and requested them to act immediately,” he said.
Referring to Saturday’s rally of Jatiya Oikya Front, Khan said, “The alliance leaders’ remarks were a clear violation of laws and an effort to raise question on the polls.
“If it continues the election will be questionable. The EC says it will act after verifying the matters,” he said.
Dismissing claims that the recently released documentary ‘Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale’ violating the code of conduct, Khan said the film was a form of an entertainment. “People are spending money to watch it.”
Asked what specific code of conducts Tarique has violated, no AL leaders could clarify it.
Citing Tarique a fugitive and convict, AL Organizing Secretary Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel, said “He (Tarique) can’t take part in any political and electoral process.
“Tarique violated the court’s order by using the technology, which is illegal and immoral,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Tarique took part in screening aspirants through video conferencing from London, which prompted the ruling AL to urge the EC to look into whether the law allows a fugitive convict to take part in the polls process.
Asked whether Tarique joining the process was a violation of the code of conduct, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The EC itself is violating the code. It’s solely a party’s decision how it will conduct interviews of the candidates.”