Hasina’s candidacy would have been cancelled in 2008 polls if ACC, EC acted properly: ACC chief
He said that if the ACC and EC had acted properly at that time, her [Hasina’s] candidacy should have been cancelled, but it was not.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's candidacy in the 2008 national elections would have been cancelled if the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Election Commission (EC) had worked properly, ACC Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen said today (11 January).
Sheikh Hasina's election affidavit at the time contained major discrepancies, he said while speaking to journalists at the at the anniversary programme of the ACC journalists' organisation RAC.
ACC commissioners Mia Mohammad Ali Akbar Azizi and Brigadier General retired Hafiz Ahsan Farid, and Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim were present at the programme. RAC President Shafi Uddin Ahmed also attended, while General Secretary Tabarul Haque moderated the event.
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Referring to the 2008 election, the ACC chairman said that there was a significant discrepancy between the assets declared by Sheikh Hasina in her affidavit and the actual assets found.
He said that if the ACC and EC had acted properly at that time, her [Hasina's] candidacy should have been cancelled, but it was not.
The anti-graft body chief said that due to limited time, it was not possible to conduct such a detailed scrutiny of the affidavits at that time.
Seeking journalists' assistance in affidavit scrutiny, Momen said if journalists have doubts about the assets of any individual mentioned in an affidavit, they should provide the information to the ACC.
He urged journalists to support the commission's investigations.
Momen said the commission expects good governance and justice for all, adding that corruption remains a major challenge.
