Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) today protested Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda's recent remarks on Badiul Alam Majumdar, the platform's secretary, saying the CEC's remarks were "ugly, indecent and untrue".
Members of the citizen's platform at a virtual press conference said remarks by the chief of a dignified constitutional institution such as the Election Commission have left them stunned.
During an event organised by Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy at the EC office on Thursday, CEC Nurul Huda claimed Badiul had been involved in financial irregularities while working with the ATM Shamsul Huda-led EC.
Besides, the incumbent CEC claimed Badiul approached him for work several times. As he did not get any work, he started to criticise the EC.
Addressing the press conference, Badiul said neither he nor his organisation or any of its representatives had ever discussed with CEC Nurul Huda or his representatives regarding work.
"These are completely fabricated and motivated," Badiul said.
Terming the CEC as a "villain", Badiul criticised him for not exercising his power to investigate alleged irregularities during the 2018 national elections.
He voiced concern that the newly enacted law for appointing the CEC and other election commissioners will create room for appointment of individuals with similar characteristics in future.
According to a written paper, read out by Shujan member and noted green activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the organisation received Tk 12.5 lakh in total from the EC for organising different campaign programmes during the Narayanganj City Corporation Election in 2011 and Cumilla City Corporation Election in 2012.
The scheduled tasks were completed accordingly and the balance-sheet including bills and vouchers was submitted to the EC on time, reads the paper.
It is inappropriate to have any allegation of irregularities to this end. However, KM Nurul Huda raised allegation of financial irregularities of Tk 1 crore against Badiul, it said.
Supreme Court lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda will have to face justice today or tomorrow over allegations of misconduct and corruption.
"My personal response to CEC Nurul Huda's personal attack on Badiul Alam Majumdar, I am not at all surprised," Shahdeen Malik said.
"Because the simplest way to avoid criticism is to personally attack the critic, especially if the criticism has no good response," he said.
Of course, this is a poor strategy, but it has unfortunately become a regular feature of our political rhetoric.
"We accept that from political leaders in many cases. Such a statement from the head of a very important constitutional position was completely unexpected. It's no surprise, given that he's been doing this for more than 5 years. He didn't feel the need to explain himself, no matter the criticism, inefficiency or incompetence," he said.
Shujan President and former adviser to a caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, retired judge Justice MA Matin, and local government expert Tofail Ahmed, Supreme Court lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik, among others, addressed the press conference.
