Staff Reporter :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal stated on Sunday that organising national elections step by step could result in a more free, fair, and acceptable process.
Speaking after a meeting with a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) delegation at Nirbachan Bhavan in the capital’s Agargaon area, he emphasized that this approach would simplify the electoral process.
Awal highlighted that a step-by-step election would allow the Election Commission (EC) to deploy more law enforcement agencies, thereby maintaining law and order and ensuring a peaceful and voter-friendly environment.
He stressed the necessity of political parties’ cooperation for the EC to organize credible elections.
The meeting, attended by a five-member TIB delegation led by Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, focused on the need for timely information dissemination.
According to Awal, TIB’s primary demand was for a free flow of information. They emphasized the importance of maintaining an up-to-date EC website, which would provide the necessary information promptly.
Awal acknowledged TIB’s concerns about delays in providing information and assured that efforts would be made to address these issues. The overall electoral process was also discussed, with particular attention given to the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and how to improve their effectiveness.
EC Commissioners Brig Gen Md Ahsan Habib Khan (Retd), Rashida Sultana, Md. Alamgir, Md. Anisur Rahman, and EC Secretary Shafiul Azim were also present at the meeting.
Awal concluded by asserting that while the recent Jatiya Sangsad election was free and fair, it was not fully participatory. The EC is committed to addressing these issues to ensure more inclusive future elections.