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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has highlighted security as the "biggest challenge" in organising Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election as the Election Commission (EC) prepares for what it calls the most transparent polls in the country’s history.
Speaking at a workshop in Chattogram on Saturday, Nasir said maintaining order during voting will be the key test for election officials across the country, reports bdnews24.com.
“Let us set an example in this country of what the rule of law truly means. We want to show that through this election, whatever the outcome,” the CEC said.
Nasir added that ensuring the safety of polling stations and staff was now the EC's main concern.
“The biggest challenge we are facing in conducting the polls is security. It has become a serious concern for everyone. Managing this will be a major challenge for us.”
He reminded presiding officers that they had full authority on election day to act decisively in case of untoward incidents.
“If there is trouble at a polling centre, you can close it. If there are disturbances in three centres, you can shut all three. If necessary, you can even suspend polling across the entire constituency,” he said.
The CEC also acknowledged other obstacles, including administrative, legal, and technological challenges.
“Whom to appoint and where to deploy -- these are administrative challenges. There are also legal issues, like deciding who to take action against if chaos breaks out at a centre, and what form that action should take.”
“We have technological challenges too -- surveillance cameras, tracking systems, artificial intelligence. These must all be managed carefully,” he added.