No illegal orders or favouritism to be there in Feb polls: CEC

“We will issue instructions, but no illegal instruction will ever be given. We will not give instructions to favour anyone or to work on behalf of anyone. Our instructions will be strictly in line with the rules and laws for doing the right work in the right way,” he said while addressing the Election Officers’ Conference-2025 at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

The CEC asked the election officers to stay neutral and make sure that they perform properly. “This applies to everyone involved in the election process. You will work properly and impartially....you have already raised your hands and made this pledge. We want to return home fulfilling this commitment,” he said.

Nasir Uddin said he does not expect any officer to work in favour of anyone during the election.

He said the Chief Adviser who is now visiting the United States, regularly tells global leaders that Bangladesh will hold a fully free and historic election. “We must uphold his trust and belief. Whatever may have happened in the past, now we have to prove that we can do it….there is no scope for any exception,” he added.

EC Sanaullah

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the July 2024 Uprising took place mainly because of the rotten or farcical elections.

“Among the reasons behind the July Uprising, one of the most important is the absence of good elections in the country.... If we try to exclude all other reasons, ultimately the final cause that stands is nothing but the rotten elections or making a farce in the name of elections,” he said.

He observed that Bangladesh as a state and as a nation now stands at a crossroad of time. In the history of a nation, such crucial moments and situations come very rarely.

“If we want to identify the prime reason for today’s reality, we must admit that it is the collapse of the electoral system. Let us first acknowledge this truth, because unless we admit the disease, we cannot cure it,” he added.

Sanaullah said once you exclude all other possible causes one by one, you will see the only reason left behind is the rotten electoral system or making a farce in the name of elections, reports UNB.

He stressed that the way forward must begin with a pledge. “From this conference, let us vow never again to hold or take part in such flawed elections. On behalf of the Election Commission, I want to make it clear that this Commission will never issue any instruction for a biased or tainted election.”

“If anyone voluntarily becomes a party tool, they will bear the responsibility themselves and the Commission will not provide any protection,” he warned.

Sanaullah assured that there will be no pressure, no undue instructions for manipulations from the current election commission. The elections must be conducted in line with the law in a fair and neutral manner, he said.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said they will hold a free, fair and impartial election, taking the election to a bright position in line with the international standard.  “We want to bring the election to a bright position in line with international standard— by holding a free, fair, beautiful, impartial election,” he said.

Talking about two major challenges for the next election, the Secretary said, “One is the misuse of artificial intelligence, and the other is our out-of-country voting and postal voting system.”

He said the EC is taking measures to gradually utilise the platform for out-of-country voting. “These things will happen step by step, not overnight.”

Election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker also spoke as special guests at the event presided over by Convener of Bangladesh Election Commission Officers’ Association Mohammad Monir Hossain.