Staff Reporter :
Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda has been placed on a fresh four-day remand following a court order on Friday, as police continue their investigation into alleged ballot stuffing and electoral fraud during the 2018 national election.
The prosecution informed the court that during his previous four-day remand, Huda disclosed substantial information, including allegations of overnight ballot stuffing and irregularities in the electoral process. The police requested an additional 10-day remand to verify the claims and recover related documents.
Sub-Inspector Shamsuzzoha Sarkar, the investigating officer from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, submitted the plea before Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court, arguing that further interrogation was essential to identify other individuals involved in orchestrating the alleged rigged election.
Presenting the case, Chief Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi highlighted the scale of the 2018 election, stating that more than 1.6 million officials were involved, including election commissioners, secretaries, deputy commissioners, law enforcement agencies, and presiding officers.
He accused Nurul Huda of facilitating a “staged election” to ensure the return of Sheikh Hasina to power, and alleged that several officials carried out night-time voting following his directives.
Faruqi further claimed that Huda abused his constitutional authority to help his nephew, SM Shahzada, win the Patuakhali-3 seat and named Helaluddin Ahmed as the Election Commission Secretary at the time.
He emphasised the need for further remand to uncover the depth of the alleged conspiracy and identify other collaborators.
In response, Huda’s lawyer, Advocate Tawhidul Islam, strongly opposed the remand plea, calling it a repetition of previous claims.
He questioned the legal validity of including sedition charges, arguing that such cases can only be initiated by the government with prior approval, which had not been granted.
“The prosecution has added the sedition charge to prolong Huda’s detention. According to Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, prior government approval is mandatory before initiating such a case,”
Tawhidul argued, adding that no elements of sedition under Section 124A of the Penal Code were present.
He also raised doubts about the ability of a sub-inspector to probe budget-related documents, pointing out that financial oversight falls under bodies like the Comptroller and Auditor General or the National Board of Revenue.
In rebuttal, the public prosecutor argued that the government’s approval for the sedition charge is not required at the initial stage and would be sought before submission of the final investigation report. He also clarified that only the Sessions Court can take cognizance of such charges.
Another defence lawyer, Advocate Obaidul Islam, appealed for leniency, citing Huda’s age, health, and status as a freedom fighter. He requested that any further interrogation take place at the jail gate rather than in custody.
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid granted police a four-day remand for further questioning. Huda, who stood in the courtroom dock throughout the hearing with his head bowed, was again handcuffed and escorted out by police wearing a helmet.
The case against Nurul Huda was filed by a BNP leader over the 2018 election, which the opposition has long claimed was manipulated.
The court’s decision signals an intensification of legal scrutiny into that election, with possible implications for several high-profile political and administrative figures.
