Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has announced that the 13th National Parliamentary Election will likely be held in the first half of February next year. He disclosed the information on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier in the morning, speaking at a press conference in Rangpur, the CEC said that the current law and order situation is good and improving.
“We want people to cast their votes peacefully and without fear for the candidates of their choice,” he said. “People have forgotten to go to polling centres. Bringing them back to the centres is the Election Commission’s challenge. For this, awareness is necessary, and journalists have a role to play in building that awareness. We seek cooperation and advice from journalists.”
AI Now a Bigger Challenge Than Weapons
The CEC remarked that the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) has become a bigger challenge than weapons.
“AI is the misuse of intelligence,” he said. “We do not see professional journalists as a challenge — they will work with us for a transparent election. However, we have concerns about those who practice journalism through Facebook without any training or skills. They create various videos about the Chief Adviser and me, add a line of text, and post them. Many people do not understand these things.”
Nasir Uddin acknowledged that public trust in the electoral system, the Election Commission, and the administration involved in elections has eroded.
However, he expressed confidence that a good election could be held through the combined efforts of the Election Commission, presiding officers, and the administration.
“Restoring public confidence in the Election Commission is possible,” he said, adding that holding a free, fair, and impartial election is the main challenge for both the government and the Election Commission in the upcoming polls.
The CEC is currently on a three-day visit to Rangpur to meet with field administration officials, law enforcement agencies, and other election-related stakeholders in preparation for the 13th National Election.
