42 eminent citizens’ allegations against Election Commission baseless, motivated: CEC

The Election Commission today outright rejected the corruption allegations against it, calling those "baseless and motivated".

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda came up with the reaction this afternoon, days after 42 distinguished citizens urged the president to constitute Supreme Judicial Council to investigate allegations of corruption and other misconduct against the EC.

Addressing a press conference at his office, Nurul Huda said the allegation of spending Tk 2 crore for delivering speeches has been brought over baseless information.

The CEC also rejected the corruption allegation over Tk 4.08 crore in recruiting staffers, saying the recruitment process was fair and impartial.

Taking about the allegations of irregularities in buying and using the electronic voting machines, the CEC said there is no question of corruption as the commission was not involved in any financial transition in purchasing the EVMs.

In a letter to President Md Abdul Hamid on December 14, eminent citizens mentioned that members of the EC, under KM Nurul Huda's leadership, have committed misconduct and irregularities, including spending Tk 2 crore for delivering speeches as "special speakers" and Tk 8.08 crore in recruiting staffers for the Commission.

The letter also said the EC has committed gross misconduct and irregularities in buying and using the electronic voting machines, and in holding the 11th parliamentary election, and also elections to Dhaka North and South city corporations, and Khulna, Gazipur, Sylhet, Barishal and Rajshahi city corporations.

With the letter, they attached relevant documents regarding the allegations.