Don't want people with political affiliation as election observers: CEC Nasir

"We want to see the entire election process through the eyes of observers to deliver a fair, beautiful and credible election," he says

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has called on local organisations not to appoint those affiliated with political parties as observers of the 13th general elections.

He made the call at an introductory meeting with local monitoring organisations on Tuesday morning.

The CEC said he wants to see the election from the point of view of the election observers.

The Election Commission (EC) is holding a dialogue with representatives of local observer organisations at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon. This time, the EC registered 81 organisations.

The EC invited 41 organisations in the morning for a day-long dialogue.

Nasir Uddin said, "Election observation organisations are partners of the Election Commission. We want to see the entire election process through the eyes of observers to deliver a fair, beautiful and credible election."

He also delivered a strict directive, saying that field activists appointed by these organisations should not be engaged in political programmes or campaigns.

"The Election Commission us committed to providing the nation with a credible election and it is not possible for the commission to do alone. Everyone must work together to fulfill this national responsibility. We want to perceive the election through your eyes. Hence, if your eyes are evil and improper, we won’t be able to see the election properly."

Stressing the need for training, Nasir Uddin said that those who will be appointed as election observers, especially newcomers, should receive an orientation and training on elections.

The field activists’ work will ensure the goodwill of the organisations they belong to and enhance their image to the EC, he said.

Nasir Uddin also requested that reports be submitted based on the realities on the ground, on whether the performance of returning officers, police personnel and other concerned parties is in accordance with the law and whether the election code of conduct is being followed.

The CEC said, “If there’s any management or procedural lapse, then the recommendations provided by the observers will be helpful to reform and develop the electoral process in future. The highest importance should be given to the neutrality of the observers. If the observers get involved in politics, then it will hurt everything.”