 "Bangladesh CEC says 180 million denied voting rights as Yunus hints elections could happen by mid-2026")
Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday (January 5) pledged to restore voting rights to nearly 180 million people who have been deprived of participating in free and fair elections, according to The Dhaka Tribune.
Speaking at the launch of a training program for election officials ahead of a nationwide voter list update, Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission (EC) is committed to addressing this longstanding issue.
“We want to remove the pain of their deprivation. We are steadfast in our commitment,” he said.
The voter list update will involve door-to-door data collection starting January 20. This is an important step in preparation for the 13th National Election.
‘A marathon race’
Nasir Uddin said of the EC’s goal of ensuring a transparent electoral process that “it’s a marathon race beginning from today up to the delivery of the result…Our goal, commitment, and promise to the nation is to present a free, fair, and credible election."
The EC has also announced plans to investigate allegations of irregularities in previous elections, including those held under Awami League rule in 2014, 2018, and 2024, which have been widely criticised as some of the most controversial in the country’s history.
The newly formed EC, which took office on November 21, has begun implementing electoral reforms to bolster the public’s confidence in the polling process.
When will the next election happen?
Meanwhile, interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, 84, who assumed leadership of the caretaker government following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August, hinted that the national election could take place between late 2025 and mid-2026.
Speaking during a Victory Day address on December 16, Yunus said the election timeline depends on the completion of the voter list update.
Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League may still participate in the upcoming election unless a ban is imposed by the judiciary or government, Nasir Uddin said earlier this week.
With inputs from PTI
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