The Election Commission (EC) is firm on holding the upcoming 12th parliamentary election in the stipulated time at any cost, and is going to announce the schedule anytime now.
“The JS polls must be held in the stipulated time at any cost,” Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said the following a meeting with President Mohammad Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Thursday.
The CEC said, "We have an obligation to hold the next JS polls within the mandated period of time. We will announce the schedule very soon," the CEC said while talking to reporters.
The upcoming general election is expected to be held in the first week of January, 2024 and, therefore, the commission may announce the polls schedule by the first half of this month.
According to sources, during the meeting between the President and officials of the EC, the CEC informed the President of the overall preparations for holding the upcoming JS polls.
CEC Kazi Habibul Awal said the EC has already held dialogues with political parties and other stakeholders in phases for the purpose of conducting free and fair elections.
Besides, necessary instructions have been issued to the executive department for the smooth holding of the election.
He said that at the meeting, the President expressed hope that the EC will play a responsible role with courage and sincerity to make the next general election fair and free by following the constitutional rules and norms.
However, pointing out that it is not possible for the EC alone to conduct a free and fair election, the president said that for a free and fair election, the active cooperation of the people as well as the executive department is required. Political parties should come forward to help make the election free and fair.
President Mohammad Sahabuddin said elections are the most important means of reflecting people's opinions in the democratic process. And people elect their representatives through elections with the expectation that the desires and aspirations of people will be fulfilled through those representatives, he added.
Stating that fair and participatory elections strengthen democracy, he also said democracy and development go hand in hand.
President Mohammad Sahabuddin said that to continue the development in Bangladesh, the country's democratic trend must continue.
He urged the commission to play its role responsibly with courage and sincerity and following constitutional rules and regulations.
The election commissioners and secretaries of the president were present at the time.
As a part of the preparations for holding the elections acceptable to all, the EC organized dialogues with most of the political parties, representatives from the civil society, journalists, NGOs, election observers and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the EC also held meetings with all the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies where the chiefs of the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies informed the commission that there is no hurdle to holding the JS polls on time.
