The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The major political parties, including BNP and Awami League, want people found corrupt by the court to be disqualified not only for elections but their party membership should also be terminated.

Leaders of the parties, however, told The New Nation yesterday that convicted people should get the opportunity to be heard in higher courts.

The leaders said this when their attention was drawn to the list of convicted corrupt political leaders and activists submitted to the government recently by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta told this correspondent that if anybody in the party is convicted by the Supreme court on corruption charges, his party would not own them.

“But we (Awami League) cannot take a decision in this regard before having final judgment from higher courts,” he said.

Asked to comment on the fate of convicted party leaders and activists, AL leader Amir Hossain Amu and Abdur Razzak said the matter is yet to be discussed at any level of the party.

“We will take decision after observing all aspects relating to the matter,” Amu said.

Abdur Razzak said the government is yet to inform them formally to this effect.

BNP Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The New Nation that according to their party constitution, convicted persons are not only disqualified to take part in the elections but there is also no room for them within the party also.

Asked about the party stand regarding convicted party leaders, the BNP leader said it is a matter of law and court.

“Nobody is above law. We will remain respectful to the law of the land,” he added.

BNP Vice-President MK Anwar, however said that BNP’s position in this regard is to abide by the existing laws of the country.

He explained that if anyone is convicted for more than two years under the existing law, he/she cannot take part in the elections. But, according to him disqualifying anyone before the final judgment by the higher courts is nothing but the violation of the Constitution and that is not acceptable.

“None should be disqualified before appeal to the higher court,” the BNP leader observed.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed told this correspondent that if anyone is convicted by the highest court through open trial, he/she will be able to participate in the polls.

“But if the trail is not conducted in open court and there is no scope for the convicted people to appeal in the higher court, we will not be able to give nomination to them despite having our willingness.

“That’s why, the Jamaat leader said, “We always oppose existence of state of emergency which violates the Constitutional and fundamental rights of the citizen.”

The ACC list said a total of 116 persons including former ministers, MPs, political leaders belonging to the major parties, their family members, ward commissioners, businessmen, bureaucrats and trade union leaders have so far been convicted by the trial courts in 100 cases on corruption charges under the state of emergency.

Most of the convicted leaders belong to the BNP and the Awami League. The BNP leaders include Begum Khaleda Zia’s former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, former ministers-Barrister Nazmul Huda, Barrister Aminul Haque, Shajahan Siraj, Morshed Khan, former state ministers-Barrister Shahjahan Omar, Aman Ullah Aman, Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud and Ziaul Hoque Zia. Among former BNP MPs, Salauddin Ahmed, Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, Ali Asgar Labi, Eng Monjurul Ahsan Munshi, Rashiduzzaman Millat, Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu, Mosaddek Ali Falu, Hafiz Ibrahim, Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker and M Naser Rahman have also been convicted on corruption charges.

The AL leaders who have been convicted on charges include former minister Mohammad Nasim, former state ministers Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, former whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah, former AL MPs- Kazi Jafarullah, Shamim Osman and Joynal Abedin Hazari, Sheikh Helal Uddin, Dr HBM Iqbal, Mostfa Rashidi Suja, Haji Selim and Haji Mokbul Hossain.

Among other party leaders, the list also include former minister and Jatiya Party chairman Anwar Hossain Manju and his wife former MP Tasmima Hossain, former Jamaat MP Shajahan Chowdhury and former IOJ MP Mufti Shahidul Islam.

According to the section 11(5) of the Emergency Power Rules-2007 that says those convicted during the state of emergency in the trial court for corruption cannot participate in the elections.