EC should probe clash during Ishraque’s campaign, says Quader

The Election Commission should carry out an investigation behind yesterday’s clash during the campaign of BNP’s DSCC mayor candidate Ishraque Hossain in Wari, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today.

The Election Commission can direct law enforcers, who are now under them, to take action in this regard, Quader said while briefing reporters on contemporary issues at his ministry.

While briefing diplomats yesterday BNP accused AL for the clash but the video footage of the incident shows otherwise, Quader who is also the general secretary of AL, claimed.

The footage shows the candidate himself was kicking the door of the opponent’s office room, he said.

Asked about Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar’s allegation that there is no level-playing field within the EC, Quader said it is their internal matter.

The minister said an election commissioner can express different views over an issue but he cannot “support” the way the commissioner is making EC’s internal issues public.

“I have heard of this kind of allegation…This is absurd and odd,” he said.

BNP and Mahbub Talukder are reacting the same way, Obaidul Quader said adding that it feels like the election commissioner is taking a stance for a particular party.