Dhaka, Feb 11 (UNI) Ahead of the upcoming twin polls, Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, speaking to foreign journalists, and international observers in the capital, reaffirmed the Election Commission’s commitment to holding a “free, fair, impartial and credible” national election, set to take place tomorrow.
Speaking at a briefing at the InterContinental Dhaka, the CEC said preparations had followed “a coordinated and multi-dimensional approach encompassing legal reforms, institutional readiness, stakeholder consultations and operational planning.”
Four election commissioners, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Sarker and Brig Gen (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, along with EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, were present at the event.
Outlining the extensive legal reforms undertaken, Nasir Uddin remarked that stakeholder engagement had been made a priority factor, stating “structured dialogue was maintained with political parties, civil society and other stakeholders to bolster confidence and participation, while amendments to electoral laws were made to enhance clarity, accountability and compliance”, adding that institutional reforms were paired with detailed operational planning.
Describing voter registration as a key priority in the run-up to the polls, he noted that the nationwide update drive had enrolled over 4.5 million new voters, including 2.7 million women, bringing the total number of registered voters to a whopping 127 million.
He noted that development partners, including various UN agencies, had supported the registration effort.
For the first time, out-of-country voting has been introduced for the Bangladeshi diaspora through postal ballots, with around 800,000 expatriates registered. Postal voting is also available within the country for eligible voters, and a significant number of ballots have already been returned.
“All operational arrangements have been finalised,” Nasir Uddin said, noting that all polling centres have been verified, ballot papers are distributed, and nationwide training has been provided to authorities to ensure professionalism and strict adherence to all electoral procedures and norms for a free, fair, transparent, festive election process.
Explaining the process, he said that presiding officers, assisted by polling staff, will oversee voting and counting at polling stations in the presence of candidates’ agents, accredited observers and journalists.
The results will be announced at polling stations at the earliest, and will be formally declared by returning officers post counting and consolidation.
Highlighting transparency as a central factor in the process, the CEC noted that observers from over 45 countries and organisations, including nearly 220 from the EU, along with more than 160 international journalists, are expected to monitor the process of the twin polls.
Domestically, over 45,000 observers will be attending from across 81 registered organisations, and will generate massive coverage with more than 60,000 journalists set to cover the polls.
Nasir Uddin assured that media personnel would have access to polling stations while maintaining voter confidentiality, and that observers would be free to publicly share their findings after the vote.
On the security front, the CEC said that comprehensive arrangements had been made in coordination with law enforcement agencies and the interim government to ensure a peaceful polling environment.
Concluding his remarks, he thanked journalists and observers for what he described as their constructive engagement, emphasising that their role is vital in strengthening public confidence.
“As we approach election day, I wish to reaffirm the commission’s unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election,” he said.
