EC graft: Dignitaries write to the president again

Forty-two eminent citizens have again written to the president, requesting him to take steps to investigate allegations of financial irregularities and corruption against the Election Commission (EC).

They also said they want to meet the president to discuss the matter.

The letter was sent on 17 January as an attachment to the first letter to assist the president in reaching a decision. Supreme Court lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik sent it on behalf of the dignitaries.

A seven-episode Boishakhi TV report on irregularities and corruption in the money allocated for the training of Election Commission officials was attached to the letter.

Copies of several media reports on audit objections against the matter raised by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General were attached as well.

The letter said Boishakhi TV, in 2019, reported on how 15 controversial posts were created to give unethical financial benefits to some high-ranking EC officials, including the chief election commissioner.

The reports alleged that a few officials misappropriated Tk11 crore from the training budget in 2018-19.

The letter said misappropriating tax money through abuse of power in the name of training is a heinous act of corruption.

On 14 December last year, these dignitaries appealed to the president to form a supreme judicial council against the chief election commissioner and other commissioners, alleging financial irregularities, corruption and serious misconduct related to elections.

The latest letter said only a proper investigation by a supreme judicial council could prove the allegations to be true.

Emeritus Professor Dr Serajul Islam Choudhury, retired comptroller and auditor general M Hafizuddin Khan as well as former adviser to the caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan are among the distinguished citizens who wrote the letter.