Barguna-2 by-polls on Oct 3
The chief election commissioner, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, on Sunday said that Jamaat-e-Islami leaders would be able to contest the parliamentary polls but would not get ‘scale’ or
any other election symbol reserved for the party.
He made the observation replying to a volley of questions from reporters on the Jamaat’s right to contest elections as the Election Commission announced the schedule for election to the Barguna 2 parliamentary constituency fixing October 3 as the polling day.
He was asked whether the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami would be allowed to contest the elections or the Barguna 2 by-polls as the High Court had declared illegal the registration of the party.
Rakibuddin replied, ‘We are yet to get the certified copy of the High Court verdict. We need to go through it.’
He continued saying, ‘As the Appellate Division has not stayed the operation of the verdict, it is in force.’
He, however, made no direct answer to a query if Jamaat as a political party could contest the polls as long as the commission received the certified copy of the verdict.
He said Jamaat leaders could contest the polls. ‘But, they would not get scale or any other election symbol reserved for the
party.’
On August 1, a three-judge special bench of the High Court, by a majority view, declared illegal and void the registration given to Jamaat as a political party by the commission.
According to the schedule, the candidates will have to submit nomination papers by September 5 and the commission will scrutinise the nomination papers on September 7.
The candidates can withdraw their candidature by September 15.
The Barguna 2 parliamentary constituency, which is comprised of Patharghata, Bamna and Betagi upazilas, fell vacant on July 26 when the ruling Awami League lawmaker Golam Sabur Tulu was killed in a traffic accident.
Article 123(4) of the constitution says that an election to fill the seat of a member of parliament which falls vacant otherwise than by reason of the dissolution of parliament shall be held within ninety days of the occurrence of the
vacancy.
The constituency comprised of 18 unions and two municipal areas has 2,31,003 voters, including 1,18,246 female.
The commission has planned to set up 499 booths in 96 polling stations to hold the polls.
Courtesy of New Age
