CEC Huda ‘embarrassed’ over death, violence during election campaign

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said he was embarrassed and shocked over the death of two Awami League supporters in Noakhali and Faridpur on the second day of election campaign.

“We had said it with a great pleasure that no untoward incident took place during the election process. But clashes happened and the deaths of two Awami League supporters left us embarrassed and shocked,” Huda said.

The CEC made the remark at the inauguration of a briefing for judicial magistrates at the Election Commission office in Dhaka on Wednesday.  

Almost 2,000 candidates contesting the election along with their supporters started their election campaign on Monday, after the election symbols were allocated.

The CEC had expressed his satisfaction to see enthusiasm during the campaign but urged everyone to cooperate to keep the election environment free of violence.

On Monday, supporters from rival political parties clashed in parts of the country, leaving two supporters from the ruling party dead. Also, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and few other candidates’ motorcades have been attacked.

The attack on Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s motorcade in Thakurgaon is ‘unexpected’, the CEC said.

 “A young man has been killed in Noakhali which left us in a shock,” Huda said on the death of a local Jubo League leader in Noakhali.

“We are embarrassed. A person’s life is more valuable than the entire election process,” he said.

The CEC has not mentioned any disciplinary action against the perpetrators in the incidents of violence in Noakhali and Faridpur despite being ‘embarrassed and shocked.’

But he urged everyone to shun the path of violence. He requested the leaders and activists of political parties, candidates and their supporters to be patient and follow the electoral code of conduct expressing his hope that there will not be any more violence.

“Do not obstruct the election campaign for anyone. Try to prevent any tension from brewing up,” he said.

Huda urged the judicial magistrates to make sure competition in the election does not turn into violence.

The magistrates should be neutral in dealing with the candidates and that will ensure a fair election, he said.

Huda focused on the tough competition of 1,800 candidates for the upcoming election.