‘BNP pledges to fully support EC for fair polls’

Staff Reporter :

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan has reiterated that the party will provide full cooperation to the Election Commission (EC) in holding free, fair and impartial national elections scheduled for February.

“BNP is committed to respecting the electoral code of conduct and contributing to a credible voting process,” he said.

Nazrul made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC Secretariat in Agargaon.

A four-member BNP delegation-comprising Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chairperson’s advisory council member Ismail Zabiullah, and former EC acting secretary Dr. Mohammad Zakaria-participated in the discussions. Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarker was also present.

The senior BNP leader emphasized that the party’s cooperation reflects its long-standing commitment to the democratic movement it has pursued over the last 16 years. He recalled the sacrifices endured by BNP activists during this period, including cases of enforced disappearance, deaths, imprisonment, and harassment.

Nazrul said the party’s prolonged struggle-culminating in the recent mass movement-was driven by the goal of restoring democracy, which can only be ensured through fair elections.
He appreciated the EC’s initiative to register expatriate Bangladeshis as voters, describing it as a fulfillment of one of BNP’s key demands.

However, he urged the Commission to extend registration deadlines in countries with large Bangladeshi populations-such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE-where many expatriates face challenges in reaching registration centers.

He also proposed that Bangladeshi passports be accepted as valid identity documents for expatriate voter registration when National ID cards are not available. Nazrul said the EC responded positively and agreed to review the proposal.
Commenting on the recently approved referendum law, he noted that the decision followed extensive discussions.
Addressing concerns about law and order, he stressed that ensuring security is essential for a free and impartial election environment.