Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday urged President Abdul Hamid to reconsider the appointment of KM Nurul Huda as the Chief Election  Commissioner (CEC)  as he is a ‘controversial person’.

“A controversial person has been appointed the Chief Election Commissioner. Even a crazy person doesn’t believe that fair and acceptable elections will be possible to hold under him,” said BNP vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu.

Speaking at a human chain programme, he further said, “Still, there’s a chance for the President to change his decision as the CEC and commissioners are yet to be sworn in. We don’t want to say anything about the four commissioners. So, we call upon the Honourable President to reconsider making a noncontroversial person as the CEC.”

Youth Forum, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme in front of National Press Club demanding withdrawal of the ‘false’ cases filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and its senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman.   

Hours after the search panel submitted their chosen 10 names to him, President Abdul Hamid on Monday night constituted the new Election Commission (EC) making former secretary KM Nurul Huda the Chief Election Commissioner.

He also appointed four new election commissioners -- former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, ex-secretary Rafiqul Islam, ex-district and session's judge Begum Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

Giving their party’s formal reaction to the EC formation, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday night voiced frustration over the new EC constitution, saying the Prime Minister's choice has been reflected on it.

He also questioned the eligibility of KM Nurul Huda for being appointed as the CEC saying he was secretary and additional secretary only on paper.

Dudu said Huda had was involved in ‘Janatar Manch’ formed against the BNP government in 1996, and he removed then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s photograph from his office when had been working as the Deputy Commissioner of Comilla.

He criticised the government for what he said harassing their chairperson and the senior vice chairman by implicating them in false cases out of political vengeance.

The BNP leader demanded the government immediately withdraw all the cases filed against them.