Allegations ‘baseless, might be ill motivated’
Distinguished citizens have brought "baseless" allegations against the Election Commission, said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury yesterday.
The allegations of corruption and other misconduct against the EC "might be ill motivated," said Shahadat while talking to reporters at his office.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Forty-two eminent citizens on December 14 urged the president to constitute a supreme judicial council to probe allegations of corruption and other misconduct by the EC.
In a letter to President Abdul Hamid, they claimed that members of the EC, under KM Nurul Huda's leadership, had indulged in misconduct and irregularities, including spending Tk 2 crore for delivering speeches as "special speakers at trainings ahead of elections " and Tk 8.08 crore in recruiting staffers for the commission.
Three election commissioners have also allegedly been using cars in violation of relevant rules.
The letter said the EC was involved in 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.
"These allegations may by ill motivated and I don't think there is any ground for the allegations," Shahadat said.
They have presented their case before the president and he would decide what to do about it, Shahadat said.
He said the eminent citizens brought allegations based on some news. "We have issued rejoinders against these news. I am not sure whether they have noticed the rejoinders.
"I do not need to use additional cars and I believe that other commissioners also do not need to use additional cars."
He said they were given government cars three years after taking oath.
"I do not know what a luxurious car is. Even UNOs are using the same model," he added.
He refused to make any comment when asked if they would take any steps against the eminent personalities.
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