The Election Commission (EC) is gearing up for national elections, possibly scheduled for either December of this year or June of next year, according to Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Md. Sanaullah.
He shared this insight during a discussion in Rajshahi on updating the voter list for the district, reported by Prothom Alo.
Speaking at the meeting held at the Regional Election Office on Monday, February 3, Sanaullah said,
"The timing of the election is not in the hands of the Election Commission. But we have a clue from the Chief Advisor`s statement on December 16. He mentioned that if the political parties agree and if the reform process needs to be shortened, then we could hold the election this December. On the other hand, if more time is needed for reforms, the election could happen in June 2026. The Election Commission is preparing accordingly."
This statement from Sanaullah points to the uncertainty surrounding the election dates, depending on how political dialogues and reforms progress.
While no specific date has been finalized, it’s clear the commission is preparing for both scenarios.
Role of Local Elections Clarified
Touching on local government elections, the Election Commissioner explained that the EC does not hold the decision-making power regarding such elections. He clarified,
"The constitutional duty of the Election Commission is to organize national and presidential elections. When it comes to local government elections, that decision is made by the Ministry of Local Government, or the government, and we facilitate the election process based on their direction."
Voter List Updates: Ensuring Every Citizen is Included
Sanaullah also highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure that every eligible Bangladeshi citizen is included in the voter list.
"We have guidelines that require online birth registration because it is considered more reliable. But in reality, there are still mistakes in the birth registration system. In one district, I found a municipality with several registration errors. Our focus should be on ensuring accuracy, not dismissing legitimate citizens because of paperwork issues. Our job is not to check documents, that’s for the clerks. Our role is to ensure all legitimate citizens are registered as voters. If someone needs documents to complete their registration, we should help them get it, but they must not be excluded from voting."
His remarks emphasize the importance of accuracy and inclusion in the voter list.
He also mentioned that the EC has taken the initiative to conduct house-to-house checks to ensure that deceased voters are removed from the list, addressing concerns about inaccuracies.
Sanaullah also assured the public that there is little opportunity for fraud with voter registration because the data is cross-checked through a centralized database.
However, he pointed out that the problem usually arises when deceased voters are not properly removed from the list, highlighting that this issue is more of a social challenge.
"Our citizens aren’t always aware of the need to report a death to the authorities. That’s why we’ve decided to go house to house and address this issue," he said.
Officials Held Accountable for Past Election Conduct
When asked about officials involved in previous elections, Sanaullah emphasized that no one is above the law.
"Those who were involved in the past elections are not immune from accountability. If anyone has deliberately engaged in wrongdoing, they may face legal action or be brought before the courts. The reform commission has also submitted a report on this. It’s not just a matter for the Election Commission; it’s for the courts to handle,"
he stated, highlighting the importance of legal accountability in the election process.
This update comes as the nation anticipates when the next national election will be held, with preparations now actively underway to ensure a transparent and smooth voting process regardless of the chosen date.
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