Next polls to be riskiest one: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said they expect 100 per cent neutrality from the election officials in the upcoming national election, which he described as the most risky one, reports UNB.

"This Commission's bottom line is professionalism and neutrality. You must send out this message," he said.

The CEC made the comments while speaking at the inauguration of a two-day election training programme for core trainers at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in the capital's Agargaon on Friday.

Around 80 core trainers are participating in the training programme. They will later train TOTs (Trainers of Trainers) ahead of the upcoming national election, scheduled to be held before next Ramadan in February 2026.

Pointing at the election officials, the CEC said, "We expect 100 per cent neutrality."

The CEC asked them to be prepared for new challenges in the upcoming election, including monitoring social media abuse, combating misinformation and disinformation, and addressing law and order issues.

Noting that the focus of this training is on morality, he urged the participants to uphold moral standard at all times.

Election Commission Abdur Rahmanel Masud stressed that the officials must carry out their election duties in accordance with the constitution and electoral laws.

He said there is no scope for carrying out election duty beyond the provisions of the laws and constitution.

"The only matter we should consider is whether I can carry out the responsibility entrusted to me properly, in accordance with the law," he said pointing at the election officials.

"There is no alternative to holding a fair election this time," he added.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker warned that the next general election would be the riskiest compared to any previous elections. Thus, there is no alternative way or second option to overcoming the challenge of holding a fair election, he said.

'Presiding officers will be the nucleus of the election'," he said, adding that about 50,000 presiding officers will be required. They must be motivated to play key roles in ensuring a fair election.

"We must be firmly committed to holding a fair and successful election," he said.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the Election Commission for the first time is going to ensure the voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis in the upcoming national election.

"We hope that this time there will be a significant turnout of expatriate voters…A huge enthusiasm is being seen among them to exercise their voting rights," he said.

Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmad said the 80 participants are the masters of 5,000-6,000 TOTs. They will later train about 10,00,000 polling officers for the next election.