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EC looks into JP lawmaker's loan default allegation

Shakhawat Liton
The Election Commission : (EO has received information from authorities concerned that Jatiya Party (JP) lawmaker of Tangail-5 Abul Kashem remained a loan and telephone bill defaulter during the ninth parliamentary polls.
If the commission finds him guilty of defaulting on loans or telephone bill, it might write to the Speaker to declare his seat vacant, said a senior EC official wishing anonymity.
The EC is also facing difficulties in probing the allegation of dual citizenship against Awami League law maker Sarah Begum Kabori as the Canadian government refused to divulge any information about her. EC sources said. The allegation was brought by oneofher rival candidates in the December 29 national polls.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) in a letter recently informed the commission that Kashem defaulted on telephone bills of over TK 32.000. sources said.
Besides, the Bangladesh Bank reported to the EC that Kashem was a loan defaulter during filing application for candidature in the December 29 parliamentary'election.
As per a provision of the Representation of the People Order (RPO). a person will be disqualified for contesting election or for being a member of parliament, if he or she remains a loan or utility bill defaulter before seven days of filing nomination paper.
Similarly, a person having dual citizenship will be disqualified from contesting the parlia-mentarv polls.
The BTCL in writing informed the returning officer (RO), also deputy commissioner of Tangail, about the matter when Kashem’s nomination paper was being examined.
But the RO neither took the information into cognisance nor cancel Kashem’s application for candidature in the national polls, said sources referring to the BTCL’s claim.
The EC at a meeting yesterday decided to ask the RO of Tangail-5 constituency to explain why the BTCL’s information had not been taken into cognisance, sources said.
"On receipt of the returning officer's explanation, the commission will decide its next course of action," said a senior EC official wishing anonymity.
The EC, however, did not discuss the report on Kashem’s defaulted loans with Sonali Bank.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Bank informed the RO that Kashem was not a loan defaulter when his nomination paper was under scrutiny.
But on receipt of allegation from Maj Gen (retd) Mahmudul Hasan, BNP candidate in the ninth parliamentary polls, the EC asked the central bank to look into the matter and this time the bank labelled Kashem as a loan defaulter, EC sources said.
The EC yesterday also discussed the allegation of dual citizenship against AL lawmaker Kabori but could not decide on how to proceed with the matter, sources added.
After receiving the allegation. the EC asked the foreign ministry to examine it The ministry then sought help from the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka, which forwarded it to the Canadian government.
But the Canadian government refused to divulge any information on the matter saying the Private Secrecy Act does not allow disclosing any information without consent of the person concerned, sources said.
The EC is yet to confinn whether Kabori is a Canadian citizen or she obtained permission for permanent residency, sources added.
UPAZIIA POLLS
The EC yesterday decided to suspend the upcoming April 6 election to Ukhia upazila parishad in Cox's Bazar, after finding that Harnidul Haque Chowdhury’, earlier allowed to contest the polls following a Supreme Court interim order, defaulted on loans. But later the court did not entertain his regular appeal.
The commission also decided to go for re-election for the post of chairman of Daudkandi upazila parishad in Comilla after finding that chair mcn-elect of the parishad Yusuf Jamal Babu was a loan defaulter
As per the EC's decision. Babu will not be able to contest the polls, sources said.