Ershad to face legal action

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad is likely to face legal action for not submitting the details for his election expenditure.

Ershad contested the Jan 5 national polls from two constituencies – Rangpur-3 and Lalmonirhat-1. He won from Rangpur but lost in Lalmonirhat.

He is yet to file the schedule of expenses incurred at the Lalmonirhat constituency.

Contestants in the 10th parliamentary elections were supposed to submit the details to the returning officers by Feb 7.

The Election Commission (EC) has asked the poll officers to take steps against defaulters by Apr 30 and inform the EC.

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Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer of the constituency Habibur Rahman said they had not yet got any expenditure returns from Ershad for the Lalmonirhat-1.

“Measures will be taken after he (Ershad) explains his position,” he said.

Rahman said there was still time to file a case against the Jatiya Party chief.

A contestant can be jailed for two to seven years for failing to furnish the accounts within 30 days from the publication of the gazette notification.

Ershad spent Tk 38,500 on polls campaigning in Rangpur-3 constituency. He already submitted the return to the returning officer.

“Those who have not yet filed their returns will have no scope for explanation. Cases will be filed against them,” EC Deputy Secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed told bdnews24.com.

Cases were filed against 50 contestants after the 9th Parliamentary polls for the same reason.

The Jatiya Party chief had announced the 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 had rejected his application for withdrawal of nomination. It only cancelled his candidature for the Dhaka-17 seat.

Ershad won the Rangpur-3 constituency.

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 Jatiya Party chief is facing several cases including the Maj Gen Abul Manjur murder case and Radar purchase case.