Bangladesh News

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the Election Commission (EC) to bar the candidates, who have given false or incomplete personal information in affidavits, from the August 4 polls.

In response to a writ petition, the HC bench of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed also ordered the EC to probe the allegations of contestants giving false information or keeping something back.

Besides, it issued a rule on the chief election commissioner (CEC) and secretary to the EC to explain within two weeks why they should not be directed to take necessary measures including cancellation of candidatures of those who have given false or partial information in affidavits submitted with their application forms.

Earlier in the day, Shamsil Arefin, a lawyer from Dhaka judge courts, filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation.

He argued that contenders in the next week’s elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities are legally bound to come up with seven types of personal information that include educational qualifications, profession, sources of income, assets and liabilities, and criminal records if they have any.

“Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to collect and publish the personal information of prospective candidates to help voters choose right persons as their representatives,” he added.

Besides, the new city corporation and municipal polls laws provide for cancellation of candidature of a contestant for failing to give complete information in all seven categories.

“But according to media reports, many candidates have provided false information while some have concealed information from the commission. Even the CEC has been reported to have expressed disappointment at the practices,” he observed.

Tajul Islam, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that the polls chief should not confine himself to expressing frustration over the situation. He must move to take action against the violators of electoral laws and rules.

The present caretaker government had begun the anti-corruption campaign to facilitate conduct of free, fair and neutral elections, he continued.

“Now if corrupt people are elected to city corporations and municipalities, those anti-graft efforts will prove futile and deal a blow to the morale of honest and competent candidates.”