BNP disowns mob attack on Ex-CEC Nurul Huda, demands legal action: Salahuddin

NN Online:

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday stated that the party does not support mob justice and will take disciplinary measures if any of its members are found involved in the recent assault on former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda.

“We do not believe in mob culture. BNP has always struggled to establish the rule of law in the country,” he told UNB, emphasizing that any legal proceedings against Huda must follow due process.

Salahuddin reiterated that while BNP seeks justice for election manipulation, the party condemns the public humiliation Huda faced. “We do not support the degrading treatment he was subjected to. It was an isolated incident. If any BNP leader or activist is found to have participated, we will take disciplinary action after a thorough investigation. This is our firm position.”

He stressed that every individual—regardless of the gravity of their alleged crimes—deserves protection of their legal and constitutional rights. “Even if someone has committed serious offenses, their rights must not be violated,” he added.

The statement comes a day after Nurul Huda, who supervised the controversial 2018 general election, was assaulted at his home in Uttara, Dhaka. A video circulated on social media shows Huda wearing a white T-shirt and lungi with a garland of shoes around his neck. At one point, a man is seen striking him in the face with a shoe. The footage triggered widespread outrage.

Criticizing Huda’s role in undermining Bangladesh’s democratic process, Salahuddin said, “Nurul Huda is among those responsible for destroying democracy and the electoral system in Bangladesh.”

He further alleged that other individuals, including former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, contributed to weakening key constitutional institutions in order to extend Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s “fascist rule.”

“Despite our criticism of such figures, we do not endorse toxic political culture or mob justice,” Salahuddin concluded.