In reaction to a recent remark of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik- Shujan- on Saturday said the CEC has resorted to the strategy of character assassination instead of providing logical explanation of allegations against him.
The civil society platform said the CEC's allegation of financial irregularities against Shujan secretary is baseless and it is to defame not only him but also other members of the platform.
Shujan gave the reaction at a virtual press conference titled 'Protest to CEC Nurul Huda's False Allegations against Shujan Secretary'.
With Shujan central committee president M Hafizuddin Khan in the chair, its secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, executive members Dr Shahdeen Malik, Justice MA Matin, Syeda Rizwana Hasan and local government specialist Dr Tofail Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme moderated by Shujan central coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarkar.
In a written statement, Rizwana said Shujan received total Tk950,600 for election related services during the city corporation elections in Narayanganj in 2011 and Tk300,000 in Comilla in 2012.
Raising question about those payments is totally unreasonable whereas Mr Huda claimed without proof that Shujan secretary is involved in over Tk10 million worth of transaction, she said.
"The CES has shown negligence in his work as well as expressed blind hate to Shujan," she remarked.
Dr Majumdar said, "Our election system has been destroyed under the leadership of Nurul Huda because his commission defied court directive of launching investigation into an election if there is any allegation against it."
"The commission has much power to exercise in holding a fair election but the current commission didn't use it at all," he observed.
CEC Nurul Huda on Thursday (Jan 27) criticised Shujan secretary saying "Badiul criticised the EC just out of anger as the commission didn't involve him in any activities of the commission."
"The commission did not involve him (Badiul) in its work because there were various allegations of corruption of over Tk 10 million against him," he said.
The CEC said these at a view-exchange meeting organised by Reporters' Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at Election Commission building in the capital on Thursday (Jan 27).
"Badiul wanted to meet me on a number of occasions but we didn't think it was necessary because he is neither an election expert nor a constitution specialist," he added.
However, Badiul responded: "We (42 eminent citizens) submitted graft allegations against the CEC and other EC officials with the president. If the CEC has a proof against me I am requesting him to come up with it,' he added.
Replying to a question about taking legal action over the CEC's remark, Shujan secretary said question should be raised first whether there would be remedy going to the court in this regard.
"We will take decision after discussing with other members of Shujan about taking any legal steps," he added.
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