Dhaka, Aug 23: Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced on Saturday that preparations are in full swing to hold the next general election before Ramadan in February 2026.
Speaking at a meeting with election officials in Rajshahi district, Nasir Uddin issued a strong warning that if any polling booth is captured during the election, voting in the entire constituency will be cancelled.
He stressed that the Election Commission is working according to the chief advisor’s directives, dismissing political party speculation about the election’s timing or feasibility. “Those dreaming of grabbing the ballot box will have their dreams shattered,” he declared.
Nasir Uddin also addressed the contentious demand by some political parties to introduce a proportional representation (PR) electoral system in the upcoming polls.
He clarified that implementing PR would require amending the Constitution, as the current legal framework does not allow it. “There is no such electoral system in the Constitution. We cannot go beyond it,” he stated, avoiding deeper involvement in the ongoing debate among political groups.
The call for PR has sparked divisions in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Nazrul Islam Khan criticized the demand as “unrealistic and suspicious,” warning it could jeopardize the election process.
On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami has pushed strongly for PR implementation for both the upper and lower houses of parliament and has threatened to mobilize protests if their demands are not met.
This political turmoil follows the overthrow of the Awami League government, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during violent protests in 2024.
The current interim government, associated with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, faces criticism for suppressing dissent and restricting free speech. Former allies who united to remove Hasina are now at odds over election reforms and the election timeline, heightening uncertainty ahead of the polls.
Despite these challenges, the Election Commission remains focused on conducting a fair election, emphasizing lawfulness and security in the electoral process. (IANS)
