Chief election commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said that the Election Commission (EC) has not yet received any formal communication regarding the proposed national elections in February next year.
According to the CEC, like everyone else, he also came to know about the proposed timeline from a joint statement made in London by the interim government’s chief advisor and the acting chairman of the opposition party.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, the CEC mentioned that no official letter or formal decision has been sent to the Commission about holding elections in February.
He also pointed out that the joint statement circulating in the media did not carry any signatures.
The interim government’s chief advisor and the acting chairman of the opposition party reportedly met at London’s Dorchester Hotel last Friday, where they discussed the election schedule and agreed that elections could be held in the first half of February if all preparations were completed.
Previously, the chief advisor had indicated that elections would take place between December this year and June next year.
However, the opposition had been pressuring for an election within December. In a later address to the nation on June 6, the chief advisor suggested bringing the election forward to the first half of April next year, but the opposition raised concerns that April would be unsuitable due to public examinations and Ramadan falling in February, making election campaigns difficult.
The agreement on February elections reportedly emerged during the London meeting, but according to the CEC, the Election Commission has yet to receive any official confirmation from the interim government regarding this timeline.
When asked whether the Commission is prepared for the elections if a schedule is soon announced, the CEC assured that the Commission is ready and continuing preparations.
He emphasized that a level playing field will be ensured for all political parties and that the Commission will act as a neutral referee.
The CEC also issued a stern warning to those who might attempt to disrupt the electoral process, saying that there will be zero tolerance for election-related violence and attempts to seize polling stations.
He further added that the interim government has confidence in the current Election Commission, and he has already instructed officials to continue election preparations following the Eid holidays.
