BNP softens stance against Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda

BNP has softened its stance for Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda whom they previously called “subservient to the ruling Awami League.”

After holding a meeting with Huda on Monday, senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: “The CEC is a noble man. He has soared in his career. Such a person can never speak rubbish.”

After Huda took office last month, Rizvi called him “a spokesman for Awami League” while BNP chief Khaleda Zia claimed he was “obedient to the government.”

In response, Huda said he was performing his duties without any bias.

On Monday, CEC Nurul Huda held a meeting with a three-member BNP delegate at Election Office in Agargaon for half an hour over the upcoming Comilla City Corporation polls.

BNP Senior Joint General Secretary Rizvi led the delegation.

Before starting for the meeting, the leader told reporters at his party office: “The CEC says he wants to start practising democracy from Sylhet. His words and actions do not match.”

After the meeting, which no other commissioner or secretary of the Election Commission attended, Rizvi said the CEC would consider all complaints of BNP regarding the Comilla city polls.

“We found his words logical. We hope he will take prompt steps to stop the ongoing crimes in Comilla,” he said.

BNP presented three-point demands over the Comilla City Corporation polls slated for Mar 30.

The demands are, ending harassment against BNP activists and leaders, not impeding their rallies and no more arrests over new cases.

“The local administration has turned a blind eye to the misconducts of Awami League activists, leaders. They are breaching the electoral code of conducts. We have told the CEC to address the matter as soon as possible,” Rizvi said.

Nurul Huda, who took office last month, will hold the 10th National Elections which the BNP has declared to boycott. However, no clear statement came regarding the issue on Monday.

“The Election Commission can prove themselves through the Comilla city polls. They can gain the trust of political parties if they pass the test,” Rizvi said.