Jamaat notifies EC, speaker about Satkhira-4 MP Nazrul's expulsion, seeks steps

Highlights:

• Jamaat writes to EC, speaker seeking vacancy of Gazi Nazrul's parliamentary seat
• Party says expelled MP no longer eligible to remain in parliament
• Letters sent a day after Jamaat postponed notifying EC and speaker
• Jamaat cites Constitution, RPO in seeking action against Satkhira-4 MP
• Organisational probe found allegations of moral turpitude proven
• Party shifts stance, sends separate letters to both EC and speaker
• Nazrul expelled after internal probe over viral video controversy

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has formally notified the Election Commission (EC) and the speaker of parliament and requested to take necessary steps to declare the parliamentary seat of Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam vacant, saying that his expulsion from the party has rendered him ineligible to remain a lawmaker.

The request was made in a letter, signed by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, sent to chief election commissioner (CEC) and the speaker today (23 July).

According to the letter, an organisational investigation found allegations of moral turpitude against Nazrul, based on reports published in various media, to be substantiated. As a result, he was expelled from the party yesterday (22 July) under Article 62 of Jamaat's constitution.

The party asked the EC to take note of the expulsion and initiate the necessary legal process regarding his parliamentary membership.

Confirming the matter, Jamaat MP and parliamentary party spokesperson Nazibur Rahman told The Business Standard that although the party had initially planned to notify the CEC and the speaker immediately after the party's Central Executive Council meeting last night (22 July), it postponed sending the letters following further internal discussions.

"The letters were eventually dispatched around 3:30pm today," he added.

Last night, Nazibur told TBS, "We have asked the EC to declare Nazrul's parliamentary seat vacant because, under Article 66 of the Constitution and Section 12[1] of the Representation of the People Order, he no longer qualifies to remain an MP."

He also said Nazrul ceased to be the party's nominated candidate following his expulsion and therefore could not retain his seat as an independent lawmaker.

Asked whether the party had asked Nazrul to resign, Nazibur said there was no need, as he was no longer a member of Jamaat after his expulsion.

Earlier yesterday, Jamaat expelled Nazrul after an internal investigation concluded that allegations of moral turpitude against him were proven.

The controversy surrounding Nazrul began on 20 July when CCTV camera footage showing him in an intimate moment with a woman went viral on social media, triggering widespread controversy.

Responding to the incident, Nazrul posted on Facebook claiming one of the girls was his second wife. They got married on 17 June this year with the consent of his first wife. However, this assertion has drawn further widespread criticism.

The lawmaker further alleged that while he and his family were staying in Dhaka's Moghbazar area, his driver, and a relative of his second wife brought outsiders to hold them hostage and demand money.

According to him, after failing to extort money and because of previous enmity, the group illegally obtained the CCTV footage and circulated it online.

Videos featuring statements from the MP's first wife, his claimed second wife and his father-in-law were later shared on social media, in which they described the matter as a family issue and alleged that it was part of a conspiracy.

Since then, several other similar videos of Nazrul have gone viral on social media, leading to more criticism and his expulsion.