Election commissioner retired Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Tuesday said that the national election was their priority and the commission was preparing to hold the polls this December.
鈥楾he chief adviser said that elections could be held by December 2025 with political consensus and minimal reforms, or by June 2026 if more reforms are made. The commission is preparing for the earliest date, aiming for December,鈥� he told reporters after a meeting with development partners held at its headquarters Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the city.
The election commission briefed ambassadors and representatives from 18 countries, including some European Union members, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, China and South Korea. The briefing was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme.
The election commissioner told reporters that development partners discussed whether both the local government and national elections could be held together and how much time it would take.
鈥楩rom our position, we informed them that it would not be possible to hold the two elections simultaneously,鈥� Sanaullah said.
Replying to a question, the election commissioner further said that it was up to the government to decide whether the local government elections would be held before the national polls. 鈥楢nd if the government wants, the EC will conduct local government elections first,鈥� he added.
鈥楥urrently, the national election is our priority, and we are preparing for it,鈥� he said.
Citing past experience, the election commissioner said that conducting all local government elections in five phases takes about a year.
UNDP resident representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller said that Bangladesh Election Commission requested electoral support to the UN in December 2024. Based on that request a needs assessment mission came in January this year.
Based on the mission鈥檚 recommendations, initial discussions were held with development partners regarding various areas of support, including strengthening the Election Commission, enhancing capacity of the training institutes, and focusing on voter registration and education, especially for women, people with disabilities and marginalised groups, he said.
The UN support in this regard would also cover procurement for election day and ongoing voter registration processes, Liller said.
鈥楾he next election, we want to see it conducted in the best possible way. We are supporting the Election Commission to hold free and fair elections, aiming for instituting the best election in Bangladesh鈥檚 history,鈥� he said.
Replying to a question, Liller said that decisions on timelines and other details were for the interim government and the Election Commission to decide.
He said that their role was to provide technical assistance in specific areas where support had been requested by the EC.
