Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda came down hard on ATM Shamul Huda, a former CEC, and civic body Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder over their remarks on the commission.
Speaking at a views exchange meeting with journalists’ body, “Reporters for Election and Democracy” on Thursday, Huda leveled allegations of irregularities and graft against them.
The Nurul Huda-led commission’s term is set to expire in mid-February.
Former CEC Shamsul Huda recently described the incumbent commission’s performance as ‘unsatisfactory’.
According to him, the commission “lacked goodwill” to hold free and fair polls and that it has created “quite a few controversies”.
Speaking at the discussion on Thursday, CEC Nurul Huda sharply reacted to the remarks made by his predecessor.
“A few days ago ATM Shamsul Huda said we could have done a lot, but didn’t; we created controversies. His remarks are unacceptable,” he said.
CEC Nurul Huda claimed that Shamsul Huda had “deviated from the constitution” while heading the commission during the 2007-8 emergency regime.
"Shamsul Huda was appointed by the army-backed caretaker administration. His responsibility was to hold elections within 90 days, but it took them 690 days. How did he deviate from the constitution and on what authority?” he said.
The CEC slammed Shamsul Huda for appointing polls observer Sujan for a job regarding the candidates’ declarations filed with election officials. “He did it at a time when the then administration was attempting to depoliticize the country. How did we appoint Badiul Alam Majumder? Give him hundreds of thousands of takas?”
Nurul Huda claimed that the incumbent commission “was transparent in each and every deal.”
Describing Sujan secretary Badiul as a “media call expert”, the CEC said they did not involve Sujan in any kind of activities due to its history of several irregularities.
“Badiul Alam Majumder now and then makes several comments over the commission. There’s a reason for it. He wanted to meet [after being appointed as the CEC] … But there were issues with him,” he said.
The commission decided to not involve Sujan due to irregularities involving as high as Tk 1 million, according to CEC Nurul Huda.
