Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today affirmed that the Election Commission (EC) is committed to conducting a free, fair, and impartial election to restore the voting rights of the country's 18 crore citizens. Emphasizing the need for credible elections, he stated, "There is no scope for working in stereotypical methods, as EC's commitment is to present a free, fair, and credible election from which the voters have remained deprived for a long time."
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CEC expressed this commitment during the inauguration of a training program for trainers, enumerators, and supervisors involved in the voter list updating process at the Electoral Training Institute in Agargaon. Nasir Uddin highlighted the EC's responsibility to eliminate voter deprivation and restore citizens' voting rights. He also acknowledged the transitional nature of the interim government, noting the high expectations placed on both the government and the Election Commission.
The CEC pointed out that several reforms initiated by the caretaker government in 1996 remain unimplemented and emphasized the need for legal reforms. "We are working towards those goals in line with the recommendation of the reform commission," he added. To facilitate this, a nationwide door-to-door data collection for potential voters is scheduled to commence on January 20, with the CEC urging cooperation from all stakeholders.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman El Masud underscored the necessity of an accurate voter list as a foundation for fair elections, insisting on caution and diligence in the voter list updating process. Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Tahmina Ahmed clarified that the commission would not be accountable for any malicious actions by EC officials.
Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker reiterated the commission's commitment to restoring electoral credibility. In a similar vein, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah cautioned against participating in the voter list process with monetary motives, stressing equal attention to dead, fake, and new voters.