Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin has described the prospect of holding the national parliamentary election and a referendum on the same day as an unprecedented challenge for the Election Commission.
Speaking at a workshop organized by the Asian Network for Free Elections in Gulshan on Saturday, he noted that no previous commission has faced such a situation.
The CEC confirmed that the interim government has formally notified the commission about conducting both elections on the same day. Preparations for the referendum will officially begin once the relevant law is passed.
Nasir Uddin emphasized that this commission faces challenges unlike any in the past. “Following the law is the only path; there is no alternative,” he said.
He also highlighted issues with the voter list, noting that nearly 2.1 million deceased individuals remain listed as voters. Additionally, 20–25 Myanmar citizens have been included in the Nilphamari voter list. Postal voting for Bangladeshis living abroad remains complicated.
Regarding the referendum, the CEC said that the ballot design is not yet finalized pending the law, but it will follow a simple “Yes” or “No” format for the proposed four points.
Concluding, the CEC stressed that technology now represents the biggest challenge for elections, affirming the commission’s firm commitment to conducting a transparent and credible vote.