Staff Reporter :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has announced that for the first time in country’s history, individuals in jail will be able to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Speaking on Monday at the closing ceremony of the fourth phase of basic training for members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) at the Ansar Guard Battalion (AGB) ground in Vatara, Dhaka, the CEC said the Election Commission has taken special measures to ensure voting rights for all citizens, including those in legal custody.
“People in prison are also citizens of this country. We have arranged a special system to ensure that they can exercise their voting rights,” he said.
Nasir Uddin also revealed that nearly one million people-including presiding officers, returning officers, and members of law enforcement agencies-will be directly involved in conducting the election.
Traditionally, these officials are unable to vote due to their duties on polling day, but this time the Commission is introducing a new mechanism to include them.
“We are taking steps to ensure that everyone involved in election duties can cast their vote. A special app will be launched for this purpose. Those on election duty will register through the app, and ballot papers will be delivered to their home addresses. They will be able to vote following the given guidelines,” he explained.
The CEC further mentioned that arrangements have also been made for Bangladeshi expatriates to participate in the election process.
Reflecting on the broader significance of his role, Nasir Uddin said, “What kind of Bangladesh we will leave for the future-whether it will be a democratic one or not-constantly occupies my mind. I have not taken this position as a routine duty or a job; I see it as a mission and a challenge.”
“Bangladesh now stands at a very critical moment. The next election would determine the direction we will move towards as a nation and as a country and how we will walk along the path of democracy,” he said.
Addressing the Ansar and VDP personnel, the CEC called upon all to remain vigilant against any malicious individuals potentially causing incidents in the general election by misusing artificial intelligence.
“Measures will be taken to stop the misuse of social media,” he said adding : “We cannot work in the conventional way, especially when the country is in such a critical state. We have to find out solutions beyond the conventional path.”
“The Ansar-VDP personnel have the biggest responsibility in the election. Training is an investment. Training will make you more confident and efficient in performing duties,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, along with senior officials and trainees.
