The Election Commission (EC) will take necessary action regarding Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam after receiving a letter from the Parliament Secretariat, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Monday.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at his office at the Election Commission Building in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Asked whether the EC had received any letter from the Speaker’s office regarding Gazi Nazrul, Akhtar said, “We have not received any letter from the Speaker regarding MP Gazi Nazrul Islam so far. However, Jamaat-e-Islami informed us some time ago, on its party letterhead, that he had been expelled from the party.”
Asked whether the EC could take any action based on Jamaat’s letter, he said, “No, not at this moment, as there is a provision that such information must be communicated to us by the Parliament Secretariat.”
Asked whether action against Gazi Nazrul depended on a letter from the Speaker, the EC secretary said, “We have to wait. Our primary responsibility is election management. The subsequent matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Parliament Secretariat. If we receive a letter, we will take action accordingly.”
Regarding reports about showing Gazi Nazrul arrested, he said, “If you look carefully, newspapers have mentioned that approval from the Parliament Secretariat is required. I do not think the Election Commission has any role in this matter.”
The issue has drawn renewed attention following the recent suicide of Gazi Nazrul’s second wife, 19-year-old Mariam Khatun.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami expelled Gazi Nazrul after a video involving his second wife was circulated on social media. The party also wrote to the Speaker and the EC seeking steps to declare his parliamentary seat vacant.
EC officials said that under the law, if a dispute raised by a political party before the Speaker is referred by the Speaker to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the commission takes action after holding a hearing.
However, no such letter seeking resolution of the dispute has yet reached the EC.