It’s ‘out of vengeance’ Mahbub fires back at CEC

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday hit back at Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda saying that the latter criticised him "out of vengeance" as they had differing positions on different election issues.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday hit back at Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda saying that the latter criticised him "out of vengeance" as they had differing positions on different election issues.

Mahbub in a statement said the EC bears medical expenses of all its current and former commissioners according to rule, and CEC Huda also availed it.

"As an election commissioner, it is my right to get proper medical treatment. The CEC has chosen the worst option to wreck his vengeance on me due to my differing stance on election-related issues," said Mahbub.

Huda and Mahbub on several occasions traded barbs in public in recent years.

Speaking at a press meet on Thursday, Huda said Mahbub has a "personal agenda".

Asked about Mahbub's criticism of candidates getting elected unopposed and other election related issues, the CEC said, "The Election Commission cannot do anything if political parties do not contest polls.

"He [Mahbub] had been in ICU and CCU, spent Tk 30 lakh to Tk 40 lakh a year as medical expenses, which was paid by the Election Commission, and he made comments for getting those published by the media."

"As an election commissioner, it is my right to get proper medical treatment."

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar

Mahbub in his statement said the CEC did not give accurate information about his medical expenses.

He said he had been suffering from prostate cancer; went to Singapore and Chennai, India for treatment as per advise from BSMMU medical boards.

"I did not go abroad for treatment on government expenses in the last two years. But I went to [United States of] America for treatment on my own expenses during these two years," he added.

On January 6, Huda said Mahbub was "intentionally spreading falsehood, with an agenda to defame the Election Commission".

He was countering Mahbub's comment that violence was an integral part of the ongoing union parishad elections.

On November 14 last year, Huda differed with Mahbub's comment that election was now in ICU, democracy on life support.

"I don't believe that there is no proper atmosphere for elections…the comments he [Mahbub] made are not decent," the CEC said.

Speaking at an event on March 2 last year, Mahbub said local government elections turned into "a model of irregularities" due to violence and capturing of polling centres.

Huda at the same event said, "Mahbub Talukdar is doing everything he can to disgrace and undermine the Election Commission. He does not work in the interest of the Election Commission."

Ahead of the last parliamentary polls, Mahbub had said a level playing field was not there.

"Mahbub Talukdar did not speak the truth. The overall election atmosphere is good," the CEC said in response.

The tenure of the current EC expires on February 14.