Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday cautioned that the upcoming 13th parliamentary election would face serious challenges, warning that “many powerful forces” from inside and outside the country might attempt to disrupt or derail the process.
“Many forces from inside and outside the country will work to spoil the election. Many powerful forces, not minor ones, will attempt to thwart the election. Sudden attacks may come. This election will be challenging. No matter how many obstacles come our way, we must overcome them,” Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted him as saying after a high-level meeting on election preparedness.
The meeting, presided over by the Chief Adviser, was held at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka. It focused on four key issues: the posting of field-level officials during the election period, combating misinformation and disinformation on social media, training of election officials, and ensuring overall security.
Briefing reporters later at the Foreign Service Academy, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus urged all stakeholders to remain alert to both domestic and foreign attempts to influence or destabilize the election.
According to Alam, the Chief Adviser specifically warned about a wave of propaganda likely to emerge online during the campaign period. “Various types of propaganda will be carried out in a planned manner from inside and outside the country to spoil the election,” he quoted Prof Yunus as saying.
Prof Yunus said that artificial intelligence-generated images and videos could also be used to mislead the public. “Immediate action must be taken to prevent the spread of such content,” he emphasized, calling for swift monitoring and response mechanisms to counter digital misinformation.
He also underscored the need to raise public awareness to ensure that the national election is “free, fair, and festive.” To that end, he advised that citizens be educated on electoral guidelines, polling station procedures, and what steps to take in the event of irregularities or disruptions.
In this context, Prof Yunus suggested that the Election Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, produce television commercials, documentaries, and short educational videos to be disseminated widely through YouTube and other social media platforms. “People must be prepared in advance — they need to know how to vote and what to do if something goes wrong,” he said.
The Chief Adviser’s remarks come as the caretaker administration intensifies coordination with the Election Commission ahead of the anticipated December polls, amid growing concerns over misinformation, digital manipulation, and potential foreign interference in Bangladesh’s electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is likely to announce the date for the 13th national election in the first week of December this year, said Shafiqul Alam.
Shafiqul said the chief adviser has instructed the authorities concerned to complete all necessary preparations by 15 November to ensure a free, fair, and secure election.
He added that the process of appointing officials for election duties will begin on 1 November, but the government has decided not to include those who served in the previous three national elections.
Further details regarding the election schedule and related matters will be announced soon, he said.
