CEC Nasir says election roadmap ‘almost ready’, could be unveiled next week

He warns that any attempt to seize polling centres by force would see voting in the entire constituency scrapped

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said the roadmap for the parliamentary election is nearly complete and could be announced next week.

Speaking to reporters in Rajshahi on Saturday, Nasir noted that the chief advisor had asked the Election Commission (EC) to hold the election in the first half of February next year.

Preparations have since been accelerated, and the roadmap was now “more or less finalised”, according to him.

The CEC, however, warned that attempts to capture polling centres by force would not be tolerated.

“There is bad news for those who think they can win by wielding arms. They won’t get that chance,” he said.

“If any attempt is made to seize polling centres, [voting in] the entire constituency will be cancelled.”

Nasir said the EC was working “on behalf of the people” and did not want to be drawn into political debate.

He added that efforts were under way to recover illegal arms and that the Army would be included in the security apparatus for the polls, “not as a striking force but as part of the law enforcement structure".

On the issue of proportional representation, the CEC said it was being debated at the political level. “If the law is changed, then it will happen.”

Asked about the participation of the Awami League, he said the party remained banned while court proceedings against it continued.

“As long as the trial is ongoing, they cannot contest the election. Decisions will be made once the verdict is given,” he said.