>EC bends laws to clear nomination of BNP’s Enamul

>THE Election Commission (EC) has cleared the candidature of BNP nominee Dr Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-1 constituency ignoring the electoral laws that clearly disqualify him from contesting the upcoming parliamentary election. Shakhawat Liton writes.
Enamul, also former inspector general of police, was appointed a member of Bangladesh Law Commission in November 2004 on a three-year contract that expired on November 28 last year.
As per the new electoral laws, Enamul, who was entitled to salary, allowances and other facilities of a High Court judge during his service in the law commission, will not be eligible to contest the parliamentary election before November 28, 2010.
Article 12 (1) (h) of the Representation of People Order (RPO) says a person shall be disqualified from contesting election or being a member of parliament if he or she has been appointed on contract to the service of the Republic or of any statutory public authority or of the defence service unless a period of three years elapses since the expiry or termination of such contract.
But both the EC and Returning Officer (RO) ignored the legal provision and allowed Enamul to contest the parliamentary polls ignoring the commission’s own interpretation of the law.

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