Dhaka: Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam has announced that the Election Commission (EC) will reveal its ‘action plan’ for the 13th National Parliament elections by July. The EC is making extensive preparations to ensure that the upcoming elections are held in December as scheduled.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md. Anwarul Islam stated that the EC plans to engage in dialogues with all political parties before finalizing the election schedule. This initiative aims to gather input and ensure a smooth electoral process. The Election Commissioner emphasized that the EC is actively working on various essential tasks, including updating the voter list, reforming the Representation of the People Order (RPO), and revising policies and laws.
The EC is also focusing on delimitation and the registration of new political parties. As part of their efforts, the commission has set a deadline of April 20 for new parties to submit registration applications. So far, three new parties have applied for registration, and the EC has not yet decided whether to extend the application period.
Md. Anwarul Islam further mentioned that after the party registration process is complete, the EC plans to conduct a ‘Views exchange’ meeting with the registered parties between August and September, or potentially earlier. This meeting aims to facilitate open discussions and exchange of ideas with the political entities.
Moreover, the Election Commissioner highlighted plans to amend existing laws to ensure that youths who turn 18 before the election schedule are eligible to vote. This amendment reflects the EC’s commitment to inclusivity and the involvement of young voters in the democratic process.