EC has inherent power to take action against those who “dishonour” directives: Shujan

Election Commission does not have any scope to express helpessness but they have an inherent power to take action against those who "dishonour" directives, said Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan).

Replying to a question today, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said at a press conference that the EC has the inherent power to do anything which was not mentioned in the regulations to make an election fair and neutral.

Badiul made these remarks in reaction to the comment of Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal who said yesterday (June 12, 2022) that "the Election Commission cannot do anything against a lawmaker if he 'dishonours' the commission's directives".

The CEC issued a letter to the Cumilla's Awami League lawmaker AKM Bahauddin to leave his constituency ahead of the Cumilla City Corporation polls scheduled for June 15 as the lawmaker attended an election campaign violating the laws.

Badiul said, all are written in the code of conduct, which was issued in 2016 for the city corporation elections.

"If anyone violates the code of conduct, the EC has the power to take action against him. They can even cancel the candidacy of a candidate. The commission should have to implement the power," Badiul said.

"All the administration, government party and opposition party leaders will be under the election commission in the upcoming national election. If they decide not to follow the commission's directives, then what will happen?" he asked.

Shujan at the conference today published their analysis about the Cumilla city election candidates' income, educational background, and the cases filed against them.