CEC lost moral ground after AL nominated his nephew

BNP yesterday said Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has lost the moral ground to stay in office after the ruling Awami League nominated his nephew as its candidate for Patuakhali-3 constituency.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi demanded that the CEC step down to show his high moral standards.

"CEC Nurul Huda's nephew SM Shahjada Saju received Awami League's nomination letter yesterday (Sunday). An aspirant of the same party, AKM Jahangir Hossain, said the ruling party has nominated him to use the CEC in favour of it," said Rizvi.

"We think the government has given the CEC a gift by nominating his nephew and that's why he's lost all the moral right to hold the office."

The BNP leader said it is now in no way possible for the CEC to conduct the election in a free and fair manner as his nephew is in the race with an AL ticket.

"The CEC through his activities has already demonstrated that he's an undeclared Awami League leader, and he managed the ticket for his nephew," he added.

He also demanded that EC secretary Helaluddin Ahmed be withdrawn from the commission as his statements are similar to the ruling party leaders'.

Rizvi accused the EC secretary of playing the main role in holding a “state-managed” election.