Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission is gearing up to record the chief election commissioner’s address on 10 December, a move widely seen as the final step before announcing the schedule for 13th parliamentary election and referendum on the same day in early February next year.
Officials at Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar have been told to prepare for the recording, according to EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, who briefed reporters at the commission headquarters in Agargaon on Monday.
He said the address would be taped at the EC building and could be aired later that day or on 11 December.
Commission insiders say this recorded message is expected to serve as the formal announcement of the election schedule.
In contrast, during the previous national election, then CEC Kazi Habibul Awal declared the schedule through a live broadcast. This time, the commission has opted for a pre-recorded format.
All related preparations for the poll timetable have been completed, EC officials said.
As per tradition, the CEC and other commissioners will meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin on 10 December. The schedule is usually finalised shortly after that meeting, clearing the way for the televised address.
Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam noted that the timetable could be released by 11 December, adding that the national election is expected to take place between 8 and 12 February.
Earlier on Sunday, the EC held a commission meeting to complete all preparations concerning the general election and the referendum on the same day.
The commission has taken several measures in the meeting including extension of the voting hours for one hour.
Later full commission met the Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State House Jamuna to brief the full preparation for the upcoming election.
The CA expressed satisfaction and said that the government is ready to present the best election in the first half of February.
During the meeting, CEC Nasir Uddin said that all preparations for conducting the election were moving ahead smoothly and that the Commission was fully ready to hold the national election and the referendum on the same day in the first half of February.
Addressing the Commission, he said, “You are on the driver’s seat in this long-awaited election. We must reach our desired goal.”
The Chief Adviser said the interim government is committed to delivering a credible election to the nation.
“We are moving forward with the determination to present the country with the best election in its history in the first half of February,” the CA said.
