FE Report
Terming recent transfer of Election Commission (EC) officials unacceptable, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), a civil society platform for good governance, on Saturday said the move was a clear violation of law and decision of a superior court.
Recently, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the EC Secretary, avoiding the Commission, have taken some important decisions related to reshuffle of some EC officials, observed leaders of the platform, citing media reports.
They expressed the views in a statement jointly signed by its President M Hafizuddin Khan and Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder.
Opinion was also not sought from the Recruitment and Transfer Committee of EC, led by one of its commissioners, regarding the transfer, they commented.
Expressing grave concern over the matter, the Sujan leaders noted that EC is a constitutional body which has been given immense power to ensure fair, impartial and acceptable election.
According to the existing law, the Commission is a joint entity where its five Commissioners are supposed to apply their specified powers altogether, the statement added.
Citing a case titled 'Jatiya Party vs Election Commission, 53 Dhaka Law Report (DLR) (AD), 2001', Sujan said as per Section 4 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, "The Commission may authorise the Chief Election Commissioner or any of the Election Commissioners or any of its officers to exercise and perform all or any of its powers and functions under this Order".
This means the CEC cannot take any decision alone if the Commission does not allow him to do so.
The Sujan leaders also opined that EC must follow the laws and court order before appointing, transferring and promoting its officials because these are closely related to EC's election-related duties.
"If there has been any lapse in the procedure, EC might have violated its own law, which wouldn't be acceptable in any way", the Sujan statement added.
Sujan also hoped that the CEC and other Commission members will take its concern into their account and will do their duties in more transparent, responsible and accountable manner.
On July 9, EC transferred 33 of its officials allegedly without informing the election commissioners. However, it was the first large-scale transfer after the five-member Commission led by CEC KM Nurul Huda assumed office in February, 2017.
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Source: The Financial Express