FE REPORT
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin urged the local election observer agencies not to involve any individuals, who are affiliated with political parties, in their activities to ensure holding a fair election in the country.
"When you appoint persons for election monitoring related activities, please examine whether they are involved with any political parties or not," he said.
"Their responsibilities will be to observe, not to intervene," he said, adding that even if irregularities take place at polling centres, the observers should not intervene; rather inform the Election Commission (EC) officials.
The CEC said these while delivering the welcome speech at a dialogue with the representatives of election observers, hosted by the EC at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area on Tuesday. A total of 81 observer agencies joined the programme in two sessions - morning and afternoon.
The CEC also said the observers are partners of the EC. "We want to observe the entire election process through the eyes of the observers - to deliver a free, fair, and credible election."
A M M Nasir Uddin
He noted that the activities of the field-level observers would influence the reputation of their respective platforms and their acceptance to the EC.
He also underscored the need for training of the new recruits, as the minimum age of observers has been lowered to 21 from 25.
The CEC requested the observers to prepare and submit their reports based on Bangladesh's field-level realities - focusing on whether returning officers, police officials, and other relevant personnel are performing their duties according to the law and adhering to the electoral code of conduct.
Seeking cooperation from all the stakeholders, Mr Nasir Uddin said journalists as well as election observers are like viewing tools of the EC.
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said 81 agencies have been authorised out of over 300 agencies, which applied to become election observers.
There are both challenges and facilities for the observers during the 13th parliamentary election, he said, adding: "Bad incidences took place during the past three elections. We don't want to recreate such examples again, not through the observers by any chance."
He also reiterated the EC's commitment to hold the best-ever election in Bangladesh's history.
"Be assured that the most transparent-ever election is going to be held in the country's history," he added.
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