Feb 12 elections will set a standard for future polls: CA

 Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today stressed on holding the forthcoming general elections slated for February 12 in a manner that it can set a standard for polls in the country in future."The 2026 polls should be such an election that will set a standard for future elections," he said. The Chief Adviser made the remarks while chairing a high-level meeting on the overall law and order situation at his office in the city's Tejgaon area ahead of the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election and the referendum on the implementation of the July National Charter. Later, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media about the meeting at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon. At the meeting, Prof Yunus said, "Our task is actually to assist the Election Commission (EC). This is a major challenge for the nation, which we must take on, and we must complete this huge task and establish it as a historic achievement."

He said that utmost attention must be paid so that there is no shortage of anything on election day, adding that there must be no lapses anywhee on February 12."Our step-by-step tests have started ahead of the elections. Starting from today, the final test will be held on February 12," the Chief Adviser said, adding, the directives of the EC are now the highest directives, and everyone must work together in accordance with the EC's instructions.

Prof Yunus said Ministry of Home Affairs will remain in the central role of the law and order command.Noting that there are various challenges now, including the challenge of multiple technologies, he said, “We will use body-worn cameras and CCTV cameras in this election while everything will be monitored from a central control room”.The Chief Adviser stressed that there must be no lack of coordination among the forces while performing their duties.He noted that a large number of domestic and foreign journalists will cover the election while domestic and foreign observers are showing great interest, saying, “They have taken the matter very seriously, and we also must be super serious about this”.

“We must remain prepared for everything. Given the current situation and the preparations in place, it is possible to hold a good election,” Prof Yunus said. All those contesting in the election are maintaining a positive attitude and mutual harmony, he said, expressing hope that none of them would deviate from this attitude.Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Solidarity Development Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Chief Adviser’s Principal Secretary M Siraz Uddin Miah, Home Affairs Secretary Nasimul Ghani, EC’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam and chiefs of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, Coast Guard and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and representatives from different intelligence agencies were present at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that 51 out of the 59 registered political parties are participating in this election.He said representatives from 26 countries have been invited to observe the election, adding that it is expected that the European Union will send an observation team of around 300 members while 56 of their representatives are already in Bangladesh. 

Two of their (EU team) representatives have observed the nomination appeal process, the EC secretary said.He said that candidates will be allowed to campaign from midnight tonight until 7:30 am on February 10.Stating that distortion of information in cyberspace is a major challenge in this election, Akhtar Ahmed said that counting party-symbol ballots, referendum ballots, and postal ballots will require some additional time.  To prevent misinformation or rumours around this issue, he stressed that the media should play a responsible role.