EC seeks to maintain consistent standards in future polls: CEC
Published: 28 October 2026, 9:22:18
Chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. File photo
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said the Election Commission (EC) aims not only to conduct free, fair and credible elections but also to establish a sustainable electoral culture in which all future elections meet the same standards.
In an exclusive interview with BSS, Nasir Uddin said the commission would seek to preserve the standards established in the 13th parliamentary election while striving to improve the quality of future polls.
The same standards, he said, would be maintained in the upcoming local government elections.
The CEC stressed that electoral reform must go beyond a one-time arrangement, adding that the country needs to develop a lasting culture of credible elections.
Drawing on the experience of the parliamentary election, the commission hopes to deliver local government polls of an equally high standard, or better, with cooperation from all stakeholders.
Highlighting the commission’s commitment to credible and impartial elections, the CEC said this determination had helped it overcome multiple challenges.
Alongside the parliamentary election, the commission organised a referendum and introduced technology-based postal voting to facilitate voting by expatriate Bangladeshis and election officials and employees engaged in electoral duties inside the country.
Arrangements were also made to enable members of law enforcement agencies and prisoners to exercise their voting rights.
“Our commitment has no shortcomings,” he said.
Expressing confidence about the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections, Nasir Uddin said the commission hoped to organise the polls in a manner comparable to the 12 February national election.
He said the commission was not under pressure from any quarter and that officials had been instructed to perform their duties professionally and impartially.
However, he emphasised that cooperation from candidates would also be essential to ensuring a peaceful and fair election.
The commission plans to hold discussions with political parties by November to seek their cooperation ahead of the local government elections, the CEC said.
Although local government candidates will not contest under party symbols, political parties may still support individual candidates.
Their cooperation would therefore be important to ensuring a fair electoral process.
The CEC said free and fair elections were indispensable to establishing a sound and sustainable democracy.
Electoral fraud, he added, could not lead to genuine democratic governance.
The EC is fully prepared to hold the upcoming UP elections, with polling centres, voter lists, election officials and necessary equipment ready, the CEC said.
The deadline for updating the voter list has been set for 31 October.
Considering Union Parishads whose terms have expired and those covered by court directives, elections may be held in phases, each covering around 800 to 1,000 Union Parishads, he said.
