CEC Huda praises military ruler Ziaur Rahman during election talks with BNP

Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda has praised former military ruler Ziaur Rahman during a discussion with the BNP, the party he founded.

"He had brought back the system for multiparty democracy in our country," Huda told a 16-member BNP delegation during a meeting on the next parliamentary election on Sunday.

Ziaur Rahman ruled for six years both individually and as leader of a party, he said.

CEC Huda also discussed 'positive measures' taken by past BNP administrations, even though the party's coalition government with the Jamaat-e-Islami had forced him to retire as joint secretary in 2001.

Huda was able to retire as secretary only after a court verdict.

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On Sunday, he opened the Election Commission's 11am meeting with the BNP by reading out a written statement, and listed the party's role in democratic movements.

"After the death of President Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, the BNP began a campaign that it carried out for nine years. Then in 1991, the BNP won the general election and formed a government.

"BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia became the country's first female prime minister. The BNP again formed a government after winning the election in 2001," said the CEC.

"Many of those who are participating in today's meeting were once ministers, or speaker of our great parliament."

"I was able to serve under you while you were ministers. Many leaders of this party have served the nation several times after being elected to parliament."

The BNP, during its time in power, was able to establish a 'natural and new course' of governance, he said.

"The governments formed by the BNP developed the country in many ways. It made primary education mandatory, set up a separate division for primary mass education, established the National University, ensured free education for girls until 10th grade, established the Rapid Action Battalion, the Expatriate Welfare Ministry, the Law Commission and raised the age limit for entering government service to 30 years, among the various policies it adopted for development."

The BNP, which sat out the 2014 general election after accusing the Election Commission of bias, has since been outside of parliament.

After Huda took on as chief election commissioner in February, the party said he was one of the several civil servants who had joined a mass platform formed in Dhaka by then opposition, the Awami League. But Huda has been denying the allegation.