Want to act as real referee in election: CEC Nasir

NEWS DESK

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday said the Election Commission wants to act as a true referee in the upcoming national election, emphasising the need for cooperation from all political parties.

“You (political parties) will play in the elections. You are the players. We really want to be in the role of referees. Without your cooperation, it is difficult to play the role of referees and hold fair elections,” he said.

The CEC made the remarks while addressing the Commission’s views-exchange with six political parties, held on Thursday morning as part of the ongoing electoral dialogue with registered parties ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, likely to be held in early February 2026.

Nasir Uddin said cooperation from political parties is essential to ensure a free, fair, and credible election. “If we do not get cooperation from the main players (political parties), the election will inevitably become questionable,” he said.

He said all 54 registered political parties are equal to the Election Commission, regardless of their size or influence. “Every registered party—big or small—is equal to us,” he said.

“We need thoughtful suggestions and opinions from all of you on what can be done before, during, and after the election,” said the CEC.

Referring to the recent surge of posters in Dhaka city, he said, “The city is flooded with posters, though the use of posters has already been declared illegal.

“These (posters) must be removed. Those who put them up should take them down. We will be strict. We will not spare anyone; we will blindly jump over these violations. Once the election schedule is announced, we will take immediate action,” he said.

On the issue of a possible referendum on July National Charter 2025, the CEC said the Commission has not yet received any official communication regarding it. “There has been much discussion about a referendum, but we have not been officially informed,” he said.

“Even under this special circumstance, where the election will be held under a special arrangement, many additional responsibilities are falling on our shoulders,” said Nasir Uddin.

The Commission invited 12 registered political parties to attend two sessions on the opening day— six parties in the morning session and six others in the afternoon session.

The six invitees for the morning session are Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Bangladesh Congress, Bangladesh Muslim League, National People’s Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan and Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh.

The six parties invited for the afternoon session are Communist Party of Bangladesh-CPB, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basod, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Front-BNF and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement-BNM.

The Commission aims to complete the dialogue with all registered political parties within this month before the announcement of the national election schedule in early December.

In late September 2025, the Commission opened a series of electoral dialogues with different stakeholders amid talks with civil society representatives on September 28.

Later, the EC held separate dialogues with the representatives of teachers, senior journalists from different media outlets, election experts and election observers.