Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has stated that the Awami League, led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, may contest the upcoming elections unless a ban is imposed by the government or judiciary.
Speaking during a meeting with election officials at the Chittagong Circuit House on Monday, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune, the Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission operates with full independence and is free from external influence.
“We are committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure a fair and transparent election,” Nasir Uddin stated.
The CEC acknowledged concerns over fake voters in past elections and attributed a decline in voter registration to public mistrust in the electoral process.
He announced plans to update the voter list within six months to address these issues.
“The voter list will be updated within the next six months. This time, elections will not follow previous patterns. Since August 5, there has been significant progress in fostering national consensus on electoral matters,” he added.
The CEC also outlined guidelines for updating the voter list and preparations for the upcoming national elections.
In recent days, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, criticised Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' suggestion to lower the minimum voting age to 17.
Yunus, 84, who assumed leadership of the interim government after the removal of Hasina in August, had proposed this change, which, according to the BNP, could put unnecessary pressure on the Election Commission and potentially delay the elections.
During his Victory Day speech on 16 December, Yunus indicated that the elections may take place between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026.
"Broadly speaking, the election can be scheduled between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," he remarked, adding that the elections would only occur after updating the voter list.
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