Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said the government has formally sent a letter requesting that the upcoming national election and the proposed referendum be held on the same day.

Speaking at a workshop on elections organised by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Saturday, November22, the CEC said the interim government had instructed the Election Commission (EC) to prepare for both the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections and the referendum simultaneously.

The referendum law is expected to be enacted next week, after which the EC will begin its preparations.

The CEC acknowledged that holding the national polls and the referendum on the same day poses a significant challenge for the Election Commission.

“This is indeed a major challenge for us. But no matter how difficult it is, the EC will hold both the referendum and the national election on the same day. We have no alternative but to move forward,” he said.

He added that the Commission has already received the government’s letter regarding the referendum. “Once the law is passed, we will be able to clarify how the ballot will be conducted. If the referendum takes place, voters will cast a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on all four points,” he stated.

Commitment to free and fair polls

Nasir Uddin reiterated that the EC’s main agenda is to ensure a free, fair and transparent election. He urged the media to cooperate with the Commission and to help ensure fairness in the electoral process.

The CEC also said the current Election Commission faces far greater challenges than its predecessors. “All our activities are being carried out strictly in accordance with the law. We have no second option. People`s expectations have become clearer to us in the past two to three days—and these expectations are very high. Whatever challenges arise, our goal is to present a transparent election to the nation. This commitment has also been conveyed to political parties.”

Expressing confidence, he added, “Our political reality may not be smooth, but I believe that after a transparent election, the situation will stabilise. Our political leaders are responsible and wise.”

Referendum preparations depend on new law

Clarifying the EC’s position on the referendum, the CEC said the Commission will not be able to initiate any work until the relevant law is passed. “Once the law is enacted next week, we will prepare and take decisions according to that law,” he said.

2.1 million deceased voters removed from list

The CEC revealed that the voter list has been updated by removing approximately 2.1 million deceased voters. “In the past, many people voted in the names of the dead. An accurate voter list is crucial for a fair election. This time the list has been strictly verified,” he added.

AI-driven propaganda a major concern

Nasir Uddin noted that preventing misinformation and propaganda spread through social media –especially those generated using artificial intelligence – will be difficult during this election.

He commented that a more cooperative political culture would have made the Commission’s work easier.

Postal voting restrictions

Speaking about postal voting, he said the facility cannot be extended using passports without proper verification, as there have been incidents of foreign nationals obtaining Bangladeshi passports abroad.

The CEC firmly stated that the Commission’s preparations for the election are complete and that it is ready to face any challenge ahead.