Taking full preparations, leaving no room for blame if polls fail: CEC after meeting with US officials
'We are not willing to accept any kind of blame, which is why we began preparations in advance,' says CEC AMM Nasir Uddin
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said the Election Commission is taking all-out preparations to hold the upcoming general election so that it is not blamed in case the polls are not held.
"I said we are taking full preparations to hold parliamentary elections. So that we are not blamed for not holding the elections. That is why we will take full preparations," he told reporters after a meeting with the US official at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon today (1 September).
His statement came after US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson inquired about the commission's preparatory measures for the national election.
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Jacobson entered the CEC's room at around 2:20pm with a three-member delegation. The meeting lasted for nearly an hour, and no other Election Commission official was present during the discussion.
Speaking to the media afterwards, CEC Nasir said, "We are committed to holding a free, fair and impartial election. The chief adviser has also given his assurance in this regard."
He said the chief adviser has informed the commission about holding the election in February, before Ramadan, through a letter. "While it is true that we have intensified our preparations, the preparations actually began much earlier."
The CEC added that there are various issues, which may have caused some delay in finalising the schedule.
During the meeting, Jacobson also asked about mob culture. Nasir said he replied, "The election is still some time away. Those who create disturbances will go to their respective localities by election time and will no longer be found [here]."
Talking about government interference, Nasir said he told Jacobson that the chief adviser has helped ensure that the Election Commission can work independently.
