Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said the Election Commission is working in line with its commitments and constitutional obligations to ensure a free, fair and credible election, adding that there is “nothing to fear”.
He made the remarks on Wednesday while responding to a question from a journalist at a briefing organised by the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat for foreign election observers and media representatives at a hotel in the capital.
Asked whether the fate of his predecessors—two former CECs who are now in jail for failing to properly discharge their duties—concerned him ahead of the election, Nasir Uddin said the commission had been working strictly within the framework of the Constitution and existing laws.
“We are carrying out our responsibilities in line with the commitments we made to the nation to ensure a free, fair and credible election. We are acting within constitutional and legal bounds. Since we are focused on our commitments, there is no reason for fear,” he said.
Earlier, the CEC said all necessary preparations had been finalised for the election scheduled to be held on Thursday. He said voter awareness activities were being conducted nationwide in coordination with relevant government departments to encourage participation.
Voting and counting will be conducted at polling centres under the supervision of presiding officers, in the presence of candidates or their nominated agents, accredited observers and journalists, he said. Ballots will be counted at the centres immediately after voting ends, and results will be announced there before being consolidated and officially declared by returning officers.
The CEC emphasised that transparency is the foundation of election management. Representatives from 45 countries and organisations, including international election management bodies, are participating in the observation process. More than 60 officials and around 330 international observers—about 220 of them from the European Union—are involved. In addition, over 160 international journalists are independently covering the election.
Domestically, approval is being granted to more than 45,000 observers from 81 registered organisations and over 60,000 journalists, with all accreditations being processed through proper scrutiny.
Nasir Uddin said coordination among relevant government officials and institutional representatives has been ensured to facilitate smooth election management. Journalists have been granted access to polling centres while maintaining voter privacy, and both domestic and international observers have been welcomed to monitor the process in accordance with EC guidelines.
“Transparency has been our priority from the very beginning,” he said, adding that journalists play a vital role in identifying any irregularities. He expressed hope that professional and impartial reporting would contribute to enhancing public trust and strengthening democratic confidence
