Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said asking a lawmaker to leave his or her constituency is interference in fundamental rights.
"At first, I've questions - whether the Election Commission can ask a lawmaker to leave his constituency who is a permanent resident of that area and also a voter of that city corporation. Isn't it interference on his fundamental rights? Then all the elected lawmakers and ministers will have to leave the capital when the Dhaka city polls will be held," he told reporters.
The minister stated these while replying to a query over Cumilla City Corporation polls after addressing a function at the Jatiya Press Club here. Quantum Foundation organized the function marking the World Blood Donor Day.
Hasan said, "I think that asking him to leave his area is a threat to his fundamental rights. There must have the instruction of not taking part in any electoral campaign and if he does so then another punitive action can be taken. But, is it proper to ask a lawmaker to leave his ancestral home?"
The minister said there is provision anywhere in the world even in India, Pakistan, England, continental Europe, Australia and Japan that of a lawmaker will have leave home. The provision is discriminatory too, he added.
He said criticisms are appearing on this issue in newspapers. "At first, it is needed to discuss what mistakes the EC has made. There was no instruction to leave the area. I'm from Chattogram and I was a minister during the Chattogram City Corporation polls. That time, I was in Chattogram city, but I didn't take part in any polls campaign and just went out of my residence for one or two times without protocol," he added.
Earlier, in the function, the minister congratulated the Quantum Foundation for their humanitarian activities.
He said the first voluntary blood donation began on June 10 in 1972 in the country with the patronization of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu's personal physician and late National Professor Dr Nurul Islam started the programme by giving blood himself, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to build a humane state along with infrastructure development.
Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute Chief Coordinator Dr Samanta Lal Sen addressed the function as special guest with foundation advisor and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Professor Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed in the chair.
Quantum Foundation director M Rezaul Hasan gave welcome address.
Later, the minister handed over crests to the blood donors.