ECs at odds with CEC Huda’s view on major election irregularities

Election commissioners do not share their chief KM Nurul Huda’s view that it is impossible to ensure major elections free of irregularities.

They think it was CEC Huda’s personal view, not the Election Commission’s.

“I don’t understand in what context and why he (Huda) made the comment,” Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar told bdnews24.com on Thursday.

“It can be his own view, not the commission’s opinion,” he added.

Mahbub also said such comments can encourage irregularities.

“I don’t agree with the comment. Such comments will create the fear before the general elections that people involved in irregularities will be encouraged,” he added.

He said the commission did not discuss the comment.

Election commissioners Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury also told reporters that it was the CEC’s personal view.

The ruling Awami League earlier questioned the CEC’s comment. General Secretary Obaidul Quader urged him to speak with ‘caution’.

Speaking to reporters after a workshop at the EC in Dhaka on Tuesday, Huda faced questions on the fairness of the next general election as the commission was criticised for irregularities in recent elections to Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Khulna and Gazipur city corporations.

“It can’t be said with certainty that there won’t be any irregularities in major public elections,” he had said.