EC will conduct national polls, referendum on same day despite challenges: CEC
The commission has already received a government letter instructing it to prepare for the referendum, he says
Mentioning that the Election Commission (EC) has already received a government letter, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today (22 November) said the commission will conduct the upcoming national election and the referendum on the same day despite challenges.
"There is no alternative but to move forward. Once the law is passed, we will be able to say how the referendum will be conducted," the CEC said while speaking at the closing session of a workshop organised by the Asian Network for Free Elections at a hotel in Dhaka.
He confirmed that the EC has already received a government letter instructing it to prepare for the referendum on the same day as the national polls.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Nasir noted that the EC cannot proceed with any preparations until the referendum law is enacted, expressing hope that the law will be passed next week.
"Once the law is passed, the commission will begin preparations and make decisions accordingly. If held, the referendum will include a 'yes/no' vote on four points. Holding the national election and the referendum on the same day will be a challenge for the commission," he added.
Speaking about the updated voter list, Nasir said the EC has removed around 21 lakh deceased voters from the rolls after rigorous verification.
"In the past, many voted using the names of deceased individuals. An accurate voter list is crucial for a credible election," he said.
The CEC also warned that tackling AI-driven misinformation on social media will be difficult during this election cycle. He added that a culture of political compromise and cooperation would have made the EC's work much easier.
Regarding postal voting, he said passports alone cannot be used without proper verification.
"There have been instances of foreign nationals using Bangladeshi passports abroad. Verification is essential," he noted.
He reaffirmed that the EC's preparations for the election are complete and that the commission is ready to overcome any challenges that arise.
Earlier today, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, "We received the letter on Thursday. The government has said that the referendum and the national election should be held on the same day."
According to the secretary, the letter states that the responsibility for conducting both the referendum and the national election lies with the Election Commission.
On 13 November, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission would take decision regarding the referendum only after receiving a formal directive from the government.
"Once we are formally informed, we will sit together at the commission, discuss the matter, and then share our opinion," he said.
