Commonwealth secretary-general Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has urged the Election Commission to intensify its public information and campaign outreach efforts to help restore confidence in the country鈥檚 electoral process ahead of the forthcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections.
The Commonwealth secretary-general on Sunday held a meeting with chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital and discussed preparations for the upcoming parliamentary polls.
EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed briefed reporters on the discussion, saying that the Commonwealth secretary-general sought details on election preparations, progress, and key operational issues.
Akhtar said that the commission had informed her that all essential election materials were being readied, while preparations for out-of-country voting for expatriate Bangladeshis were under way.
This will be, the EC secretary said, the first time in 53 years that overseas voters are being included in the polls, a development the Commonwealth secretary-general welcomed and hoped would be implemented successfully.
About the referendum, scheduled for the same day as the national polls, the secretary-general acknowledged the additional workload this would create for the commission but expressed confidence in the commission鈥檚 preparations.
According to the EC secretary, the Commonwealth secretary-general praised the rising participation of women voters and welcomed the recent EC efforts to update the electoral roll by removing the deceased voters from it.
Sharing her concern about misinformation and fake news, Botchwey advised the commission to remain vigilant in this regard.
She emphasised the importance of public trust in the electoral system, observing that extensive outreach and communication efforts were essential for the purpose.
The commission assured her that it was continuing its awareness campaigns and expected political parties to support these efforts.
The EC secretary said that the Commonwealth, a 56-member organisation, reiterated its willingness to provide assistance if required and expressed satisfaction with the support already extended by the United Kingdom.
The meeting also covered the issue of the deployment of international observers in the polls.
The commission conveyed that foreign observers would be welcomed, while Botchwey hoped that their presence would contribute to the election鈥檚 credibility.
However, details regarding the number and timing of observer missions are yet to be confirmed, including those from expatriate groups, the EC secretary said.
The Commonwealth secretary-general also sought updates on the country鈥檚 law-and-order.
The Election Commission reported that polling areas were being classified into red, yellow, and green zones to ensure appropriate security measures.
Akhtar Ahmed said that the Commonwealth had asked what specific support Bangladesh required, but the commission would need more time, he added, to assess its needs before making any requests.