Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reaffirmed that Bangladesh government is steadfast to hold a free and fair national election.
The premier made this remark when a group of incumbent and former election commissioners from India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office in the capital.
They are: former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr S Y Quraishi, Chairman of Election
Commission of the Maldives Fuwad Thowfeek, Chairman of Election Commission of Sri Lanka R M A L Rathnayake, Election Commissioner of Nepal Sagun Shumsher J B Rana and former Election Commissioner of Nepal Ila Sharma.
They are visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Election Monitoring Forum (EMF), which is an election watchdog consisting of incumbent and former election commissioners from neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the call on.
The premier mentioned that the election commission of Bangladesh has been constituted under "the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022", saying "under the act, the chief election commissioner and other commissioners have been appointed.
Moreover, the government has given absolute budgetary independence to the election commission."
Sheikh Hasina, also President of the ruling Awami League, said that the Election Commission (EC) has already set several examples of holding elections including parliamentary by-elections and local government elections.
