No security concerns ahead of February polls, says EC secretary

Akhtar Ahmed says the environment is suited for a fair and participatory election

Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has said law-enforcing agencies do not find the current situation “worrying” ahead of the parliamentary polls, expected in the first half of February.

On Monday, he said a “conducive environment” exists for holding the polls.

“I haven’t seen any concern among them (law-enforcing agencies). Rather, I’ve seen a commitment to ensure a good election,” he said after a three-hour preparatory meeting with security representatives at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka.

“An environment to hold the election certainly exists. Today’s discussion was part of strengthening that further, and this will continue,” he said.

Akhtar also said neither the current nor the expected pre-election situation had prompted any apprehension from the law-enforcement side.

“There’s no logical reason for concern. No one expressed any,” he said. “I’m saying it for the third time -- there was absolutely no reason for concern.”

The Election Commission plans to announce the schedule for the national election in the first half of December, ahead of Ramadan.

Monday’s meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and attended by the four election commissioners, the home secretary, EC secretary, and senior representatives of law enforcement.

Presenting the key discussion points, Akhtar said more rounds of meetings will follow.

“We have more tasks to complete gradually,” he said.

“Today was just the beginning. We will fine-tune these matters step by step -- individually or jointly -- with the sole aim of ensuring a free, fair, and participatory election. Everyone is committed to that goal.”