Bangladesh News

BNP will today appeal to the Election Commission (EC) to make sure that the upcoming by-election is not influenced by the parliamentary probe into the alleged financial anomalies of former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar.

Party sources said the appeal to the EC is part of the party’s effort to shield Jamiruddin’s image as a BNP contestant of Bogra-6 constituency in the by-elections.

“Led by MK Anwar, a BNP team will call at the EC tomorrow [Tuesday] to discuss the issue,” BNP Joint Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan told The Daily Star last night.

“We will ask the commission to make sure that no one influences the upcoming by-elections on April 2,” said the BNP spokesperson.

Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque told The Daily Star that they would apply to the EC so that it instructs the all-party parliamentary committee to cease its investigation till the by-elections.

Once the probe committee starts investigating, it might dig out some financial anomalies of the former speaker and against this backdrop, it would be difficult for him to win the elections in Bogra-6 where he is an outsider, said several BNP leaders.

On Sunday BNP rejected the probe body claiming the investigation against Jamiruddin Sircar would not be fair.

Speaker Abdul Hamid constituted the all-party parliamentary probe body on March 19 making a history. Speaker asked the committee to submit its report within one month from the beginning of its enquiry.

Meanwhile, the probe committee is yet to start its investigation. “I will start the probe after receiving a formal letter from the speaker,” said Fazle Rabbi Mia, the head of the committee.

Asked about BNP’s initiative to postpone the probe, Rabbi said he was not aware of that. “I will proceed according to the law,” he added.