Upcoming election to decide country’s direction: CEC

Bangladesh is now at a critical juncture and the country's future direction will depend on the upcoming national election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said.

He made the remark today (3 November) while addressing a programme for Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) polling centre security drills and the training of Ansar members ahead of the election.

The CEC stated, "The direction in which we go as a nation and as a country, and how we proceed, all depend on the upcoming election."

Addressing the Ansar members present, the CEC said, "Besides being members of a force, you are also citizens of this country. We have a responsibility to the country as citizens as well."

Nasir gave his own example, saying, "Beyond my responsibility as the CEC, I also have a duty as a citizen of this country. The thought of what kind of Bangladesh we will leave behind for the future, and how we will leave it, concerns me.'

Stating that he has taken on the work as a challenge, the CEC said, 'I have not taken this up as a routine duty; I have taken it as a mission. I have taken it as a challenge.

"I do not believe in working in the conventional way, especially when the country is in such a critical state. We must find solutions by moving beyond the conventional path."

He said that without everyone's cooperation, it is not possible to conduct a fair election.

"Today's training is training that goes beyond conventional scope. I hope you will work out of a sense of duty to the country."

The CEC urged everyone to be vigilant against malicious individuals potentially causing incidents in the election by misusing artificial intelligence, and said "measures will be taken to stop the misuse of social media. Everyone should verify [content] and be alert," he added.

At the same event, Director General of Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud said almost 5 lakh members of the force will be deployed in the upcoming election.

Stating that the Ansar force is committed to facing electoral challenges, he added that 145,000 new Ansar members have been given basic training. Training will continue until December this year.

"They (Ansar and VDP personnel) will provide all kinds of cooperation to the EC.

"Cooperation will be provided not only for electoral activities but also for campaign work," the DG noted while adding, "There are challenges in the vote this time. This force is being prepared to face those."