Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today announced that the national polls schedule will be declared approximately two months before the election date. "The polls schedule will be announced 55 or 60 days before the election. It is not possible to announce the exact date of the election at this time. However, the commission is ready whenever the election is held," Nasir Uddin stated during a press briefing at his office at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CEC emphasized the necessity of finalizing the voter list prior to the election schedule. The process of updating the voter list is expected to be completed by June. Nasir Uddin mentioned potential amendments to the voter registration law to incorporate younger voters, ensuring those who have turned 18 are included in the list.
Additionally, the application period for political party registration is set to end on June 22, alongside the significant task of determining parliamentary constituency boundaries, according to the CEC. In response to media inquiries, Nasir Uddin noted the necessity of discussions with the government to understand their stance on election timing, which will influence the final scheduling of the vote.
The CEC highlighted the importance of government cooperation for conducting fair elections, despite the Election Commission's independence. "If we get an idea from the government, we are ready to hold elections accordingly. The biggest task is voter registration, and this task is almost complete," he stated.
Nasir Uddin also referred to an important meeting held in London and the joint statement issued there, underscoring the government's commitment to facilitating a fair election. The Chief Adviser has expressed a desire to ensure the elections are conducted fairly, the CEC added.