CEC hits integrity of an election commissioner: Mahbub

Election commissioner Mahbub Talukder on Wednesday hit back at chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda for denying the former's account that there is no level-playing field for all parties in the parliamentary polls.

As Huda on Tuesday called Mahbub Talukder's comment on polls atmosphere untrue, the commissioner termed the former's denial a blow to the integrity of an election commissioner.

In his statement, Mahbub Talukder said, “Chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda told a meeting in Rangamati that I’d told a lie by saying ‘I don’t think there’s anything like level-playing field’.

"I’m strongly protesting at his statement. Through this statement he has hit the integrity of an election commissioner,” he told newsmen in his office room at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

Mahbub Talukder made the comments tacitly referring to the attacks on the opposition candidates' campaign and arrest and filing of cases implicating hundreds of political activists across the country.

He said, “The CEC has a few times earlier made adverse statements targeted at me. I’ve never protested at those. I couldn’t but protest at his statement about my comment on ‘level-playing field’.”

He mentioned, “In response to queries from newsmen, I said, the journalists will get the answer to whether there is a level-playing field if they ask their conscience.”

“I’m still asking the people concerned to ask their conscience whether there is any level-playing field in the elections,” the election commissioner added.

In reply to queries from newsmen on 17 December, election commissioner Mahbub Talukder said, “I don’t think there’s anything like level-playing field [for the 30 December parliamentary elections]. The term ‘level-playing field’ has turned into a meaningless word.”

Contradicting his colleague’s comment, CEC Nurul Huda on Tuesday insisted there is level-playing field for all the candidates contesting the 11th parliamentary elections.

"Mahbub Talukder didn’t tell the truth. Overall, a congenial election atmosphere prevails in the country," the CEC told a meeting on law and order in three hill districts, held at Rangamati Tribal Cultural Institute.

He further said, “All are conducting electioneering. Where is the problem with level-playing field?”

Offended by Huda's comment, Mahbub Talukder, a former civil servant, apparently reminded his colleague that "Everyone should remember all election commissioners including the chief election commissioner are equal."

Source: Prothom Alo