Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has announced that the national election will be held in the first half of February, highlighting transparency and public trust as key priorities in the final stages of preparation.
Speaking to journalists at the Election Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday, the CEC said, We aim to hold a participatory, transparent, and credible election. Restoring voters’ confidence remains our biggest challenge.
He confirmed that the final voters’ list will be published by August 31, including all citizens who reach the age of 18 by the cutoff date. Procurement for the polls will be completed by mid-September, and the commission will hold consultations with the media and other stakeholders ahead of the election.
“We want to make this election as transparent as possible– clear as a mirror– so that the world can see whether there are any shortcomings in our efforts. We will not operate in secrecy,” Nasir Uddin said, adding that the commission is vigilant against the misuse of AI to spread misinformation or influence the electoral process.
The CEC noted that around 800,000 to 1 million voters may cast their ballots through postal voting, and special arrangements are being made for them.
“Everyone must remain neutral and fulfill their responsibilities. In the past, elections faced political pressure; now our challenge is to restore trust and bring voters back to polling centers,” he added.
In response to a question, Nasir Uddin remarked that while the activities of the Awami League are currently banned, its supporters will still be allowed to vote. However, he refrained from directly answering whether party leaders and activists would be permitted to contest in the election.
