Assumed office at critical time, holding fair polls only option for nation: CEC

The current Election Commission (EC) took responsibility during a critical time, and it has no alternative but to ensure a free, fair, and participatory national election for the sake of the nation, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said today (6 October).

"This election is not only crucial for the Election Commission but also for the entire nation," the CEC said during a meeting with the representatives of electronic and print media at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Addressing the journalists, Nasir said, "We cannot conduct the national election alone - it must be organised nationally. Every report and every piece of news you produce is very important for democracy and for the polls.

"You are the shapers of public opinion, and we want to make the best use of that."

He informed that since taking charge, the EC has been preparing for a participatory and credible election. As part of this, nearly 2.1 million deceased voters have been removed from the electoral roll, while 4.4 million new voters have been added.

He highlighted that the number of women voters has increased significantly this time. "Earlier, female voters were fewer in number, but now they are registering in large numbers, which is a positive sign."

The CEC also mentioned initiatives to ensure voting rights for expatriates and officials on duty. While the law allows for postal ballots, he admitted the system had not been implemented effectively in the past.

"This time, steps have been taken to make it functional," he added.

In addition, the EC has taken steps to launch an online registration system to enable expatriate Bangladeshis to vote.

Stressing the need to restore public trust in elections, the CEC said, "People must understand the importance of voting, and need to regain faith. If everyone works together, it is possible to create a festive atmosphere during the election."