Will take on responsibilities as a challenge: CEC

Ensuring free and fair elections for the next five years will be ‘challenging’ believes Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

The CEC was responding to the media after a trip to the National Memorial with his deputy commissioners to pay their respects to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

“We have yet to start work, so it is not possible to go into details,” he said. “But what I can say is that we are sincere. We are taking our duties as a challenge so that we can fulfil them successfully.”

The Nurul Huda-led commission includes former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, former secretary Rafiqul Islam, former district judge Kabita Khanam and former brigadier general Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury as election commissioners.

The ruling Awami League and its allies say they have ‘faith’ in the new commission, while the BNP has expressed ‘dismay’ at its composition. BNP leaders have made several negative comments about Huda, saying he has Awami League leanings.

“It is entirely their business why they feel compelled to make such comments,” said Huda. “I do not have anything to say on the matter.”

Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mojibur Rahman greeted the new EC members at the National Memorial.

The EC members placed wreaths at the monument and observed a minute of silence for the martyrs.