Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday said the country’s law and order situation has not worsened and there is no barrier to holding a free and fair national election.
Speaking at a programme in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, the CEC described the recent shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi as an isolated incident. He said such incidents are not new in Bangladesh and urged people not to see the attack as a sign of broader instability.
“Similar incidents happened in the past, including the killing of Ahsanullah Master,” Nasir Uddin said. “These events should not be used to draw sweeping conclusions.”
Rejecting claims that law and order has deteriorated, he said, “Where has the situation worsened? From time to time, one or two incidents of murder or violence do happen.”
The CEC compared the current situation with periods of serious unrest in earlier years. “There was a time when police stations were not functioning properly and officers could not even work. Compared to that period, the law and order situation has improved a lot,” he said.
Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission (EC) is fully ready to hold the polls on schedule. He called on all concerned to remove doubts about the election process.
“There may be concerns in the media and elsewhere, but we have no confusion. The election will be held on time, and it will be free, fair and competitive with the participation of all,” he said.
The CEC also said the EC held a meeting with senior law enforcement officials a day earlier and issued necessary instructions to ensure security during the election period.
“They have assured us that peace and order will be maintained until the election and that they are capable of ensuring a smooth voting process,” he added.
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