The Election Commission (EC) will seek assistance from Facebook in preventing the spread of election propaganda on the social media platform. 

The commission will hold a meeting with its mother organisation Meta Incorporation in this regard.

According to EC officials, a team of Meta will meet the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday (August 3). 

A Meta-delegation, led by Ruzan Sarwar, Head of Public Policy, Bangladesh Affairs, will come from Singapore in this regard, they added.

The team is likely to be involved in various promotional activities for the upcoming 12th national parliamentary election, they said, adding that the team will also discuss how the platform can assist the Election Commission in curbing malpractices during the elections.

EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said Facebook's representatives have requested an in-person meeting with the commission. 

The primary focus of the meeting may be on devising ways to prevent misconduct and ensure a fair and transparent election process, he also said.

The EC has already revealed that the schedule of the national election will be announced either at the end of October or the beginning of November. 

Besides, the voting could take place either at the end of December or in the first week of January.

Meanwhile, political parties have started holding different programmes ahead of the election as their supporters are actively engaged in campaigns and promotions.

BDST: 1301 HRS, AUG 2, 2023
MN/SMS