Suranjit slams CEC for long vacation

FE Team | Published: April 05, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Senior Awami League (AL) leader Suranjit Sengupta criticised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmad Friday for enjoying long vacation during the upazila polls, reports UNB.
"It becomes tough for us to defend his long vacation. People think it was not proper for him (CEC) to go for long vacation during the upazila polls," he said at a discussion organised by Bangabandhu Academy at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the capital.
The veteran AL leader also advised acting Chief Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak to show restraint in his remarks.
"The post of Election Commissioner is a respectful one as well as constitutional. People expect restraint and good etiquette from them. It is not proper to criticise harshly," he said.
On Sunday, Election Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mobarak said Khaleda Zia is 'rubbing her nose in dirt by participating in the upazila parishad polls under the present Election Commission (EC)'.
On the amended Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) law, Suranjit said: "Thana police can settle fraudulent cases including cases filed under section 420. If such cases come under the Anti-Corruption Commission law, the Commission and police will look after the investigation into the cases."
He suggested that such cases will have to be brought back under the Penal Code before the current session of Parliament ends.
"It is not understandable how the Law Ministry allowed enacting the law. I've drawn the attention of the Law Minister in this regard," he said.
Suranjit observed that the victory of BNP supported candidates in a significant number of upazilas is 'unprecedented' though Awami League is in power.
"There was less government intervention in the upazila polls. Now BNP should take part in elections under the party government shunning its demand for restoring non-party election-time government," he said.
BSS adds: BNP has violated the electoral code of conduct in the recently held upazila elections by using religion, said Suranjit Sengupta.
Suranjit said "If you (BNP leaders) think upazila elections were held badly then reject it (polls)… all of your elected people should resign".
He said BNP supported candidates were elected in many upazilas, which proved that fair election is possible under an elected government. He expressed the hope "BNP friends would come out of their demand for caretaker government".