DHAKA, Sept 14, 2022 (BSS) – The Election Commission (EC) today unveiled its roadmap for holding 12th national polls in a free, fair and participatory manner, saying it has constitutional obligation to conduct the elections by January 29, 2024.

“The maiden session of the 11th national parliament was held on January 23, 2019. So we have constitutional obligation to conduct the 12th national polls between November, 2023 and January 29, 2024,” election commissioner Md Alamgir said at a press briefing held on the occasion of presenting the roadmap at the Election Building.

Presided over by EC Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker, the briefing was addressed by Election Commissioners Brig Gen (Retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Rashida Sultana, Md Alamgir and Md Anisur Rahman.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal couldn’t attend the briefing due to his poor health, the EC sources said. In the absence of CEC, Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib Khan addressed the function as chief guest.

“We would hold polls though Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the metropolitan cities and district towns. The main aim of formulating the roadmap is to hold free, fair, neutral, participatory and acceptable elections,” Khan said.

He said the present EC is expecting to organize such election by gaining confidence of all the political parties in between the time left before the election. 

“We are facing many questions and people had lack of trust on us. But we have proved by our works that have been able to gain at least some confidence of people compared to initial stage,” the senior EC said.

EC Rashida Sultana said they would move forward in line with this roadmap and will be able to present a participatory and good election if they get assistance from all.

Terming the roadmap as realistic and time befitting, EC Md Anisur Rahman too sought support from all the stakeholders for holding a free, fair and participatory election.

“We have tried to accommodate the opinions of all the stakeholders in this roadmap. But the opinions contrary to the constitution couldn’t make place here. We would tackle all the challenges and implement all the works as per this roadmap,” EC Md Alamgir said.

As per the roadmap, CCTV cameras will be installed in all the polling booths and EVMs will be applied in maximum 150 constituencies, that too in metropolitan cities and district towns.

According to the roadmap, the work of reforming the law would be completed by August, 2022 to February, 2023. Delimitation of the constituencies will be done by January, 2023 to June, 2023. Election dialogue will be held by March, 2022 to December, 2022. Implementation of technology will be ensured by August, 2022 to August, 2023.

Work of registration of political parties will be completed by September, 2022 to June, 2023. The process of updating the voter list started in May, 2022, and final list to be published in March, 2023.

Selection of polling stations would be finalized by June, 2023, to August, 2023. Training of polling staff will start in January, 2023. Registration of election observing agencies will start in January, 2023, and will continue till August, 2023.