The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) will hold a mock round of voting on Saturday to iron out any deficiencies ahead of general elections in February. Dhaka Tribune said the voting will take place at a designated school in Dhaka and the media will be present.
It’s not clear if there will be more rounds of mock voting as the election date nears, but Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin was quoted by Dhaka Tribune as saying that “We have promised the nation that we would deliver a fair, beautiful and credible election. The Election Commission alone cannot ensure this. We all must work together for it.”
He also called upon local observers organisation that will oversee the voting, to ensure that no person involved with any party or in politics, is on their staff. This was important, he said, to ensure their impartiality.
“If they have participated in political programmes, processions or meetings, please do not appoint them,” he said. “If any report comes that your observer is working in favour of a political party or influencing the process, this will be a great damage done to your reputation. So, please ensure they remain totally impartial.”
Describing the observers and journalists as the CCTV cameras for the EC, he said “If they keep watch, no one will dare to commit irregularities. Your role is very important. You have a very important role to play. If they see an irregularity, it is their duty to report it, not to intervene or stop it.”
Apart from meeting observer organisations, the Election Commission is also sitting down with law enforcement agencies and the armed forces on Thursday, followed by top officials of the interim administration on Friday.
The EC has already held discussions with 47 registered political parties, including BNP, Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP). The schedule for elections is expected to be announced early next month.
