Staff Reporter :
If the government or court bans the ousted Awami League (AL), they will be disqualified from participating in the elections; otherwise, there is no bar to their participation, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.
The CEC made these remarks during a view exchange programme titled “Updating Voter List and the 13th Parliamentary Election” held at Chattogram Circuit House on Monday.
Responding to queries, the CEC stated that such a decision would be political in nature.
“We have heard that some individuals have filed cases seeking a ban on the AL’s participation in the elections. The Election Commission will act according to any court verdict on the matter,” he said.
He emphasised the independence of the Election Commission, asserting, “The Election Commission operates with complete autonomy and is free from external pressures. We are committed to ensuring a fair and transparent election process.”
Addressing concerns from past elections, the CEC acknowledged the prevalence of fake voters and the decline in voter registration due to mistrust in the process. He announced plans to initiate an update of the voter list to address these challenges.
“The voter list will be updated within the next six months. This time, elections will not follow the patterns of previous ones. Since 5 August, significant progress has been made in building a national consensus on electoral matters,” the CEC added.
During the meeting, detailed guidelines on voter list updates and preparations for the upcoming national election were discussed.
The CEC assured that the commission is ready to conduct credible elections and restore public trust in the process.
Regional election officials from various levels participated in the meeting, contributing to discussions on election management and strategies to improve voter engagement.
