All preparations completed for upcoming election, says EC secretary

"Ballot papers are being handed over in phases to assistant returning officers and presiding officers. This means that preparations for voting have been completed,” he says

All preparations for the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum have been completed, says Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

He said, “Today, I can inform you that elections are scheduled to be held in 299 constituencies. Polling in one constituency has been postponed due to the death of a candidate and will be held later. Ballot papers for all 299 constituencies have been delivered and all election materials have been distributed.”

"Ballot papers are being handed over in phases to assistant returning officers and presiding officers from the offices of the returning officers. This means that preparations for voting have been completed.”

Akhtar made the remarks on Tuesday at the inauguration of a “media centre” for foreign journalists and media professionals, organised by the Press Information Department, at a hotel in Dhaka.

In his words, “After completing these preparations, we are now waiting for that auspicious moment. At 7:30am on the 12th, when voting begins, we will reach a historic turning point and make a new beginning. Until that time, we are waiting.”

Holding the parliamentary election and a referendum together was a “big challenge”, the EC secretary said.

"Getting to this point was not easy or smooth. But step by step, gradually, we have been able to overcome the challenges,” he said.

"What is the goal? To ensure a free, fair and meaningful election in a festive environment.”

Urging the journalists to disseminate truth, he said: "Report the truth and uphold the truth. I am not saying that you do not uphold the truth—you certainly do—but it must be nurtured. That is my request.”

“We will provide information. How that information is interpreted will be up to you. But we will refrain from misinformation and disinformation. We will speak only the truth. No matter how harsh or difficult that truth may be, we will say it. There is no problem with that. The truth is the truth.”

However, on the issue of election results, the EC secretary said: “Regarding result management, I have mentioned this in the past, but I feel it is necessary to say it again.”

“At the returning officer’s office, results from the postal ballot centre may take slightly longer to come in compared to other centres. Although it may take some extra time, we are trying to minimise the difference.”

Explaining the reason, he said, “Because of the structural nature of the ballot papers there, the process requires scrutiny and, in some cases, multiple checks.

“Taking that into consideration, we’ll allow it to be prolonged under any circumstances.”