Staff Correspondent:

The upcoming general election will undoubtedly be the most risky in Bangladesh’s electoral history, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said on Friday (August 29).

Speaking during the inauguration of a two-day training programme for core trainers ahead of the national election at the Electoral Training Institute in Dhaka, the commissioner said the Election Commission’s primary responsibility is to organise a fair and acceptable election and that there is no alternative to that.

Both the commission and field-level officials must be committed to ensuring that there is no cheating or deception in the election, he said.

Anwarul noted that due to the weakening of the commission’s “institutional memory,” it has been “stumbling” in many areas.

He urged officials to uphold the commission’s dignity through confidentiality and responsibility.

The election commissioner added, “We have no second option other than holding a good election. Presiding officers will be at the centre of this election. If we can make them strong and efficient, a successful election will be possible.”

Emphasising the importance of training, he said field-level officials must prepare a list of all possible problems and devise solutions.

A polling centre can be managed properly if a presiding officer performs his duty courageously and honestly, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said the EC wants 100% neutral behaviour from election officials in the upcoming polls.

“… this commission’s bottom line is professionalism and neutrality. You must send out this message,” he said, pointing at the participants of the training programme.

The CEC asked them to be ready to face new challenges, such as abuse of social media, misinformation and disinformation, alongside challenges related to law and order during the election.

Referring to Anwarul’s comment, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said, “My colleague has just stated that the upcoming election will be risky. But it does not end there – a former CEC was recently garlanded with shoes. To add further, another former CEC is currently behind bars.

“This is unfortunate. Who is responsible for such a situation? It needs deep analysis. I hope that one day such an analysis will be carried out, and research too. But as for us who are standing here today, those who have been entrusted with responsibility, what will we do and what will be the mechanism?”

Highlighting the role of the EC in ensuring equal opportunity for all, the commissioner told election officials to carry out their duties according to the law.

“Do not look to anyone else; just follow the law. If you work in line with the constitution and the law, equal opportunities will be ensured for all. There is no need to be distracted by what someone does, thinks or says.”