Mahbub Talukder lies with an agenda: CEC Nurul Huda

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda today said that Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder is a liar who speaks with an agenda.

The CEC said this after a workshop at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka when journalists sought his reaction on Mahbub Talukder's statement over the fifth phase of UP election held yesterday.

Mahbub Talukder in a statement to the media yesterday said crime and violence have become an integral part of the union parishad elections.

"Now in the battle for votes, we only have battles, but no votes," Mahbub Talukder yesterday opined, adding that violence and elections cannot go hand-in-hand.

Talking to the media, the CEC today said, "He (Mahbub Talukder) always talks like this. He uses words for publicity in the media. … Those are irrelevant. Its propaganda. He says these to scandalise the Election Commission," the CEC said.

Asked about violence in the UP election, he said EC is not responsible for the violence and deaths during the polls. "The candidates and their followers are responsible. Violence occurs outside the polling centres. We always ask them to keep patience," he said.

Violence does not happen due to weak administration, the CEC said, adding that sometimes police also become victims -- they are killed or injured.

At least 10 people were killed in the fifth phase of the union parishad polls yesterday as voting was marred by violence in several districts.