AL may contest elections unless banned: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin

Dhaka, Dec 30 - Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said that the Awami League may participate in elections unless the government or the judiciary issues a ban against the party.

The CEC said this during a meeting with election officials at the Chattogram Circuit House on Monday morning.

“The Election Commission runs with complete independence and faces no external pressure. We are committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure a fair and transparent election,” the CEC assured.

Highlighting past challenges, the CEC acknowledged the issue of fake voters in previous elections and attributed a decline in voter registration to mistrust in the voting process, and announced plans to initiate a voter list update soon to address these concerns.

“The voter list will be updated within the next six months. This time, elections will not follow previous patterns. Since 5 August, there has been significant progress in fostering national consensus on electoral matters,” he added.

During the meeting, the CEC provided detailed guidelines on voter list updates and preparations for the upcoming national election.

He said that the commission is ready to hold a credible election and restore people’s trust in the process.

Regional election officials from various levels attended the meeting, contributing to discussions on election management and strategies for improving voter engagement.-UNB