Judicial inquiry begins in a day or two to probe allegations
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Seven judicial inquiry commissions formed to probe the allegations that led to the postponement of elections in seven upazilas on January 22 are going to start their work in a day or two, reports UNB.
"The inquiry committees have been asked to submit their reports to the Election Commission (EC) within 15 days of starting their investigation," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain told journalists at his office Monday afternoon.
The upazilas are Araihazar in Narayanganj, Muradnagar in Comilla, Mehendiganj in Barisal, Bancharampur in Brahmanbaria, Raipura in Narsingdi, Kaliganj in Gazipur and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar districts.
During the investigation, he said, the election officers in the upazilas would discharge secretarial duties.
The Election Commissioner said the one-member inquiry committees with specific terms of reference would dig out the reasons behind the alleged irregularities. "They'll have to find out whether the local influential persons, including MPs and ministers, were involved in the incidents," he said.
Replying to a question, Sakhawat expressed the hope that the committees would start investigation within a day or two. "The inquiry will be conducted following the rules of the government."
He said the irregularities and allegations received by the EC have already been sent to the officials concerned for helping the investigators.
Replying to another question, Sakhawat said the Commission has already sent a letter to the Ministry of Law requesting for forming inquiry committees for nine more upazilas.
Asked about four upazilas-Iswarganj, Ajmeriganj, Daudkandi and Harinakunda where the election results were postponed for various reasons-the Election Commissioner said the Commission would take decision in this regard as per the High Court (HC) verdicts.
Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Ministry formed the one-member inquiry commissions with district judges following suggestions from the Supreme Court (SC).
The commission members are: Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge Quader Newaj (for Araihazar Upazila), Barisal District and Sessions Judge M Shahidullah (for Mehendiganj Upazila), Brahmanbaria District and Sessions Judge AFM Mostafa (for Bancharampur Upazila), Comilla District and Sessions Judge AKM Zahir Ahmed (for Muradnagar Upazila), Narsingdi District and Sessions Judge Abul Hossain Khan (for Raipura Upazila), Gazipur District and Sessions Judge Farid Ahmed Shibley (for Kaliganj Upazila) and Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Nirmol Kanti Chowdhury (for Teknaf Upazila).
"The inquiry committees have been asked to submit their reports to the Election Commission (EC) within 15 days of starting their investigation," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain told journalists at his office Monday afternoon.
The upazilas are Araihazar in Narayanganj, Muradnagar in Comilla, Mehendiganj in Barisal, Bancharampur in Brahmanbaria, Raipura in Narsingdi, Kaliganj in Gazipur and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar districts.
During the investigation, he said, the election officers in the upazilas would discharge secretarial duties.
The Election Commissioner said the one-member inquiry committees with specific terms of reference would dig out the reasons behind the alleged irregularities. "They'll have to find out whether the local influential persons, including MPs and ministers, were involved in the incidents," he said.
Replying to a question, Sakhawat expressed the hope that the committees would start investigation within a day or two. "The inquiry will be conducted following the rules of the government."
He said the irregularities and allegations received by the EC have already been sent to the officials concerned for helping the investigators.
Replying to another question, Sakhawat said the Commission has already sent a letter to the Ministry of Law requesting for forming inquiry committees for nine more upazilas.
Asked about four upazilas-Iswarganj, Ajmeriganj, Daudkandi and Harinakunda where the election results were postponed for various reasons-the Election Commissioner said the Commission would take decision in this regard as per the High Court (HC) verdicts.
Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Ministry formed the one-member inquiry commissions with district judges following suggestions from the Supreme Court (SC).
The commission members are: Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge Quader Newaj (for Araihazar Upazila), Barisal District and Sessions Judge M Shahidullah (for Mehendiganj Upazila), Brahmanbaria District and Sessions Judge AFM Mostafa (for Bancharampur Upazila), Comilla District and Sessions Judge AKM Zahir Ahmed (for Muradnagar Upazila), Narsingdi District and Sessions Judge Abul Hossain Khan (for Raipura Upazila), Gazipur District and Sessions Judge Farid Ahmed Shibley (for Kaliganj Upazila) and Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Nirmol Kanti Chowdhury (for Teknaf Upazila).