Afil, Monirul cleared

The Election Commission (EC) have cleared Sheikh Afil Uddin and Monirul Islam, elected as ruling Awami League MPs from Jessore, of charges of violating the code of conduct.

The EC on Sunday disposed of the issue after the two tendered unconditional apology.

A gazette notification will be published later in the day declaring the two as elected after the signature of four commissioners, EC officials said.

Afil was elected without contest from Jessore-1 and Islam won the polls from Jessore-2.

On Dec 30 last year, the AL MP candidates had publically said the victory of ‘boat’ symbol should be ensured with 100 party activists occupying each polling station.

On Jan 1, a polling agent of a contestant in Jessore had complained to the Election Commission against the two Awami League candidates.

The electoral probe committee submitted its report to the commission on Jan 3 saying that it found the allegation true.

On Jan 7, the commission issued show cause notices to the two candidates asking them to explain within 10 days why their candidature should not be scrapped for their breach of code of conduct.

Both replied to the notices on Jan 15.

The commission then set a hearing date to resolve the matter.

But the hearing was not held as the candidates filed writ petitions in the High Court.

The court on Feb 20 asked the EC to settle the issue within two weeks.

The EC received the copy of the court order on Mar 16.

It held a hearing on Thursday.

Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak, now standing in as acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in the absence of the CEC, was present at the hearing.Two other commissioners Abu Hafiz and Md Shah Nawaz were also present.

In their written statement, the two MPs claimed the charges against them were ‘false’, the EC officials said.

During the hearing, the two sought apology for their inadvertent mistake.

An EC official preferring anonymity said the commission had decided to clear the charges against the two after analysing the court rule and their written and verbal statements.

The EC issued a gazette notification of MPs elected in the 10th parliament except the two on Jan 8.

The first session of the parliament will continue until Apr 3.

Afil and Islam will get the opportunity to join the session if they take oath in three days following the publication of gazette notification.