CA advises field officials to make upcoming election historic, unforgettable

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus advises Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) across Bangladesh to get down to preparing forthwith to ensure that the upcoming general election stands out as a defining moment in the nation's history.
Describing the post-uprising twin-vote as an opportunity to rebuild Bangladesh, he urges the local administrators to organise the polls with integrity, transparency and public confidence at the forefront.
Speaking Sunday through videoconferencing from the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka, the head of interim government addressed the UNOs nationwide on election preparedness, with divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and senior cabinet officials also in attendance online.
"History has given us a new chance -- a chance that future generations may never get," says Yunus. "If we use this moment wisely, we can build a new Bangladesh. But if we fail, the nation will stumble."
He contrasts the forthcoming polls with elections held under the deposed previous government and says, "Any reasonable person would agree those were not elections, but deception."
The coming vote, he says, is not merely an administrative exercise but "a historical responsibility".
Yunus stresses that the credibility of the election would depend greatly on the conduct of UNOs. "If you fulfil your responsibilities properly, the government will be able to carry out its duty successfully," he told the audience, adding that both the election and the upcoming national referendum alongside it are of critical national importance -- one shaping the next five years, the other potentially influencing the next century.
He encourages new administrators to prioritise peace, fairness and public participation, urging them to visit all polling centres, consult stakeholders and prepare meticulously.
Public awareness surrounding the referendum would also be essential. "Voters must come to polling stations with a clear decision -- whether to vote 'yes' or 'no'," he notes.
In a striking analogy, the Nobel laureate compares administrators to midwives: "If the midwife is good, the child will be born well."
He calls for creativity in overcoming unexpected challenges and asks officials to actively counter misinformation and rumours -- a growing concern in Bangladesh's volatile media landscape.
Yunus also emphasises women's participation and safety, directing officials to ensure women can reach polling booths freely and securely.
With the election schedule expected to be announced anytime now, he instructs the UNOs to begin operational planning immediately and to prepare for all phases until voting concludes.
Senior officials -- including Principal Secretary M Siraj Uddin Mia, Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam and Public Administration Secretary Md Ehsanul Haque -- were present at the event.

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