A senior BNP leader alleged on Monday Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda has lost the moral ground to stay in office after Awami League (AL) nominated his nephew as its candidate for Patuakhali-3 seat, reports UNB.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office in the city, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi demanded the CEC to quit demonstrating his high morale.
"CEC Nurul Huda's nephew SM Shahjada Saju received AL's nomination letter on Sunday. It's another aspirant AKM Jahangir Hossain said the ruling party has nominated him to use the CEC in the election in favour of it," said Rizvi.
Rizvi further said, "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 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He also demanded the EC secretary Helaluddin Ahmed be withdrawn from the commission as his statements are similar to that of the ruling party leaders.
Rizvi accused the EC secretary of playing the main role in holding a state-managed election.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) alleged on Monday the Election Commission (EC) has violated the constitution by unilaterally taking the decision to use EVM in the next parliamentary elections.
A letter in this regard, signed by the president and general secretary of the association, was sent to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda at his Nirbachan Bhaban office in the city.
Vice-president of the association Md Golam Rahman Bhuiyan, treasurer Nasrin Akter and advocate Ahsan Ullah submitted the letter to the EC on behalf of the association.
"The Election Commission has violated the constitution by unilaterally taking decision to use EVM in the 11th national election overriding its rules and regulations," the letter reads.
It further said there is no reference anywhere in the constitution to hold election with EVM.
Even after the announcement of the election schedule, many opposition leaders and activists are being arrested in false cases, the letter says.
