Bangladesh: Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda was assaulted and humiliated by a mob on Sunday evening in Dhaka’s Uttara area before being handed over to the police.
A group of individuals reportedly entered his residence, forcibly brought him outside, and placed a garland of shoes around his neck.
The incident was recorded and circulated widely on social media.
According to police sources, Nurul Huda was later shown arrested in a case filed by the political party BNP with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The case accuses 24 individuals, including three former CECs, of alleged misconduct during previous elections.
The station's officer-in-charge, Imaul Haque, confirmed that Nurul Huda was one of the accused.
The case includes the names of former election commissioners Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad (2014 election), KM Nurul Huda (2018 election), and Kazi Habibul Awal (2024 election).
Also named are several former Inspectors General of Police (IGP), including Hasan Mahmud Khandker, AKM Shahidul Hoque, Javed Patwary, Benazir Ahmed, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Video footage from the scene shows Nurul Huda in a white T-shirt and lungi surrounded by an aggressive crowd.
He is seen being garlanded with shoes, pelted with eggs, and even struck with a shoe by one individual, while police officers stand nearby.
The video has sparked outrage and widespread debate online.
Following the assault, police took Nurul Huda to the Detective Branch (DB) office in Dhaka. DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam confirmed that he was brought from Uttara West Police Station.
Nurul Huda oversaw the controversial 2018 general election, which has long been marred by allegations of ballot stuffing on the night before the vote, giving rise to the term “midnight voting.”
Despite public anger at the former CEC, many have condemned the mob action.
Critics say that while Nurul Huda should face justice for any proven wrongdoing, mob justice is unacceptable.
Human rights activist and researcher Rezaur Rahman Lenin told the media that any trial must occur under existing Bangladeshi law. “Putting a shoe garland on someone and harassing them is not a form of justice — it’s mob justice,” he said, noting that similar acts of political violence were once committed by the then ruling Awami League supporters, and now seem to be replicated by the opposition.
He added, “Invoking the spirit of the July uprising to justify such actions is not acceptable. This too is a crime, and there should be accountability — but under which law? And will the party take any action against those involved in this behavior?”
