Final preparations underway for Feb elections : CEC

Final preparations are underway to hold the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections in the first half of next February, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.

“We are taking all necessary preparations to hold the elections in the first half of February before Ramadan next year,” he told reporters at his office at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon.

Nasir Uddin said, “Our honorable chief adviser is now in New York. You see, he is telling the person he is meeting that the elections will be held in February. He wants to transfer power democratically. He wants to hold a beautiful election, a historic election.”

“We are working to implement those words of him to hold a historic election,” he said.

The CEC sought media support in holding a historic election.

“We need your (media) cooperation. You should make people understand our sincerity. We do not want to follow anyone’s words. We follow our conscience. We want to follow the law. We want to follow the constitution and we want to follow a straight path. We want to work impartially. You should present this thing, our statement to everyone,” he said.

The CEC mentioned that it is not possible to hold a fair election without the cooperation of political parties.

“Political parties are our main stakeholders. It is not possible to hold a fair election without their cooperation,” he said.

However, the government is continuing discussions with them, he said.

“The Consensus Commission has got extension for another month. So I hope the political parties will come to a consensus,” he said.