Ali Asif Shawon : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday expelled Satkhira-4 lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam over what it described as “moral misconduct,” triggering a constitutional process that could ultimately determine whether he is allowed to remain a member of the National Parliament.
The party’s decision to immediately inform the Election Commission (EC) shifts the controversy beyond internal disciplinary action and into a constitutional question under Article 70, Article 66(4), Section 3 of the Parliament Members' Dispute Settlement Act, 1980 and Rule 178 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, reviving debate over what happens when an MP elected on a party ticket is expelled from that party.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of Jamaat’s Central Executive Council at the official residence of the opposition leader, chaired by party chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Jamaat said an internal organizational inquiry had established allegations of “moral misconduct” against Nazrul Islam and decided to expel him under Article 62 of the party constitution.
It also announced that the Election Commission would be notified immediately.
The notification is expected to initiate the next constitutional stage concerning the MP’s parliamentary status.