CEC seeks ex-officials' advice to curb poll irregularities

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said the Election Commission aims to draw lessons from former election officials to identify gaps and prevent the recurrence of irregularities in the future elections, report agencies.

"We're not here just only to discuss how to conduct a fair and credible election. Many of you, through the long services with EC, are aware how elections were manipulated in the past. We want to identify the areas where intervention is needed to prevent future malpractices," he told the former election officials.

The CEC made the remarks while addressing a view-exchange meeting with election experts at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on Tuesday.

He said the former officials had practical experiences as they worked in the field during the previous elections.

"Since you were involved practically here, you know better than us about where the gaps lie. We would like to seek the recommendation so that we can close the gaps. We didn't invite you just for a discussion. We want your valuable insights and suggestions so that we can plan our next election procedure more effectively," Nasir Uddin said.

The CEC said he took the issue of arranging a fair election as the last scope in his life to serve something for the country as his age has already crossed 73 years.

"I take this as the last opportunity of my life to do something meaningful for the country. I'm over 73 now and have no personal ambition left. My only commitment is to deliver a fair, transparent, and widely accepted election but that will not be possible without everyone's cooperation," he said

Eight former election officials Md Zakaria, Khondaker Mizanur Rahman, Md Nuruzzaman Talukder, Mihir Sarwar Morshed, Shah Alam, Mir Mohammad Shahjahan, Misbah Uddin Ahmed, Md Shahedunnabi Chowdhury and Mahfuza Akter, and FEMA President Munira Khan attended the talks.