Allegation of corruption against EC: 10 SC lawyers request ACC to take action

Ten Supreme Court lawyers today submitted an application to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for taking appropriate legal action over the allegations against Election Commission of causing a loss of Tk 7.47 crore of the state in the name of training allowance.

The lawyers led by Mohammad Shishir Manir handed over the application to the ACC office, requesting the commission to conduct investigation and lodge a case against the chief election commissioner, election commissioners, EC secretary, just retired EC secretary and other government officials responsible for the loss of the state money.

Citing a report published in Bangla daily Jugantor on January 3, the lawyers said that Tk 7.47 core has been spent for "special speakers", "course directors" and "course advisers" for the training programmes without approval from the finance ministry and without following the rules of the EC.

Other lawyers, who signed the application, are Md Asad Uddin, Mohammad Mujahidul Islam, Md Zobaidur Rahman, Md Abdus Sabur Dewan, Al Reza Md Amin, Abdullah Hil Maruf Fahim, M Mustafizur Rahman, M Mujahidur Rahman and Md Zahirul Islam.

On December 14 last year, 42 distinguished citizens have urged the president to constitute Supreme Judicial Council to investigate allegations of corruption and other misconduct against the EC.

In the letter, the citizens mentioned that members of the EC, under KM Nurul Huda's leadership, have committed misconduct and irregularities, including spending Tk 2 crore for delivering speeches as "special speakers" and Tk 8.08 crore in recruiting staffers for the Commission.