Staff Reporter :
Newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin stated on Tuesday that the Election Commission (EC) has initiated the necessary steps to hold the upcoming national election within the timeframe set by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
In his remarks to reporters at Nirbachon Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, the CEC outlined that the first priority of the commission would be to prepare an accurate voter list. He also mentioned that the EC was considering holding local government elections before the national parliamentary elections.
“We began our work from Day 1 for the national election. We are taking all necessary steps and will be fully prepared to hold the election within the timeframe set by the Chief Adviser,” he said.
When asked whether the EC would announce an election roadmap, the CEC responded, “The Chief Adviser has already announced the timeframe. We will proceed accordingly. While we are not considering announcing a public roadmap, we will certainly have our own internal action plan.”
His comments came in the wake of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s Victory Day address, in which he indicated that the next general election could be held between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026 after necessary reforms.
“Broadly speaking, the election could be set between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026,” the Chief Adviser stated in his address.
The CEC further emphasised the importance of preparing an accurate voter list. “The Chief Adviser has stressed the importance of this as well. We are starting with the voter list preparations, and in two months, a fresh and final voter list will be available.
After that, we will go door-to-door to collect information. The election will be held based on this corrected and verified list of voters.”
On the same day, Chief Adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the next general election would be held by June 30, 2026. He clarified that while the focus is on the national parliamentary election, no decisions had been made regarding local government elections.
“The Chief Adviser has indicated that the primary focus is on the national election. He has not mentioned local government elections. Political parties have been discussing the transfer of power from the interim government to an elected government, and thus, we are concentrating on that,” Shafiqul Alam said.
The exact date for the election will depend on the progress of the reform process, he added. The interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, assumed office on August 8, following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5. Political parties have been calling for an election roadmap from the interim administration for some time.
