Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced today that the Election Commission has regained the authority to cancel the election of an entire parliamentary constituency should any issues arise. He emphasized that in the event of problems, the election would be canceled and the Army would be deployed to conduct the election anew.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CEC made these remarks during his concluding speech at a dialogue with civil society representatives at the Election Commission Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka. AMM Nasir Uddin expressed a commitment to transparency and encouraged suggestions for bringing in foreign observers, while also increasing the number of local observers.
He acknowledged the numerous suggestions regarding the misuse of social media and artificial intelligence in elections, stating that previous recommendations had not always been implemented. However, he assured that efforts are being made to address these concerns. Nasir Uddin called upon civil society to leverage their influence to promote a participatory election process.
The CEC reiterated the Election Commission's commitment to conducting a free, impartial, and professional election. He urged civil society to advocate on behalf of the commission and emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts from various agencies and stakeholders to ensure an acceptable and credible election process.
The dialogue was attended by four Election Commissioners, the Commission's Senior Secretary, and other senior officials. Civil society representatives included former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Begum Rasheda K Chowdhury, former Ambassador M Humayun Kabir, and Dhaka University Professor Robaet Ferdous, among others.
During the dialogue, Begum Rasheda K Chowdhury highlighted the necessity of ensuring the safety of women and children throughout the election process. She addressed the crisis of trust among the general population and advocated for the voting rights of women and individuals with disabilities. Professor Robaet Ferdous emphasized the need for unrestricted media access during the elections.