The current Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, faces no “political pressure” that could obstruct free and impartial elections, said banglanews24.com Editor Tawhidul Islam Mintu.

Speaking at a dialogue held at the Election Commission Bhaban in Dhaka on Monday (October 6), he said doubts over whether a fair election would take place are essentially political. 

“It depends on political decisions. Political power determines the authority of the Election Commission, as seen in the past three terms, which is why fair elections were not held,” he observed.

He added that the current government and the Election Commission now have a unique opportunity. 

“There is no assigned burden on this government or the EC. The ruling party has no apparent interest in conducting or contesting the next election. Therefore, there are no barriers for the EC to hold a free and fair vote. The outcome now depends on how the political stakeholders choose to participate,” he said.

Questioning the strength of what he described as “fascist supporters,” Mintu said that after years of repression, abduction, and killings, public support for the ruling establishment has waned. “The 46 percent support seen in 2008 may have fallen to around five percent — that will be proven through the ballot,” he remarked.

Addressing the voter list issue, he expressed concern over the accuracy of the updated rolls. “Many enumerators did not visit households — even mine. So, how many voters remain unlisted is uncertain. Who were the data collectors? Did they just take the money without visiting homes? These are important questions,” he said.

The session, chaired by CEC AMM Nasir Uddin and moderated by Acting EC Secretary KM Ali Newaz, was attended by the four election commissioners, senior EC officials, and representatives from the media.

SMS/