Asif Nazrul indicated that the next national elections in Bangladesh could 'realistically' be held sometime in 2025.
The interim government plans to constitute a new Election Commission through a search committee, which will update the voter list and organise the election within next year, he said while appearing in a late-night news-analysis show on Channel I on Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.
"I feel that there could be a realistic prospect of holding the elections next year. However, many factors need to be considered. This is only a preliminary assumption."
Two months after the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, the Election Commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal resigned.
Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022, a six-strong search committee is required to fill vacant positions in the regulatory body.
The most recent Election Commission was appointed under this legislation.
After a wave of resignations post-Aug 5, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been filling vacancies gradually.
Nazrul said that efforts to establish a new Election Commission were underway, stressing the need to form a proper commission to avoid dubious electoral processes.
"To form a new Election Commission, a search committee needs to be established. The search committee requires the involvement of the Public Service Commission chairman. Accordingly, a new chairman was appointed to the PSC, which is also a process. Now, the search committee will be formed, followed by the Election Commission," he said.
Emphasising the importance of having an accurate voter list, he said, "The process has begun. The search committee will be formed shortly. Only the Election Commission can pass orders related to the voter list."
Discussing the steps involved, he added, "After forming the search committee, we'll establish the Election Commission, then update the voter list, and then conduct the elections."
In an interview with Reuters on Sept 24, army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman indicated that the elections could occur in 18 months following necessary reforms to the electoral process.
Addressing the timeline suggested by Waker, Nazrul said, "I'm not sure why the army chief specified that timeframe, but realistically, it may be possible to hold elections by next year."
When asked if the elections might happen by 2025, Nazrul said, "Yes, there are many factors involved. This is our preliminary assumption."
UNB adds: Seeking apology to the people who are suffering due to price hike of essential commodities, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has said the government was working hard and taking joint efforts to improve the situation.
"I am seeking apology to you. I feel so bad. This is intolerable to us. We are working very hard. We are working together," he said while talking in the show.
Asif said the impact of the floods is reducing and the winter is approaching. "We expect the situation will improve to a great extent. In some areas, the situation has already started improving," he added.
The law adviser said it was a syndicate involved in importing commodities during the previous government.
He acknowledged that the syndicate is very powerful, noting that it is not that much easy.
The government is doing in every possible way to deal with the issues of essential commodities and highlighted the steps taken so far in cooling down the market, Asif said.
He said this is an issue that gives mental pains to all of them in the government.
