A health official is vying in the next parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Chittagong-4 by allegedly concealing his professional identity in his nomination form.
The accused official is Md Salauddin, a health assistant at Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex.
He submitted his nomination papers mentioning business as his profession instead of government service.
According to sources, his nomination was rejected by the returning officer concerned and the Election Commission on grounds of “fraudulence” in collecting signatures of 1% of voters. He later got back his candidacy by appealing in court.
Sitakunda Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Nur Uddin Rashed said: “Salahuddin has been working as a health assistant at the health complex for several years.”
He collected the nomination papers as an independent candidate for the Chittagong-4 constituency without informing the higher authorities.
“When we got to know, a show-cause letter was sent to him on November 11, but he did not respond,” said Dr Nur Uddin.
“Then I issued a second and third show-cause letter to him on December 18 and 25, but he still did not reply,” he said.
“I also informed the matter to the civil surgeon of Chittagong, the divisional commissioner and the returning officer,” said Dr Nur Uddin.
He also sent a written complaint to all authorities concerned, including the Election Commission secretary, the director general of the health directorate and the UNO, to take action against Salahuddin for participating in the election.
When asked, Assistant Returning Officer and Sitakunda UNO KM Rafiqul Islam said that he has yet to receive a copy of the written complaint.
“I will inform the returning officer and the Election Commission to take action upon receiving the complaint,” he added.
Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Ilias Chowdhury said they officially informed the EC of the matter, urging necessary action against Salahuddin as per the rules.
When asked, Salahuddin said he started electioneering on Monday after receiving the electoral symbol rocket. However, when asked about the issue of concealing his designation as a health official, he cut the phone call.
