Staff Reporter:
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said that understanding and cooperation among political parties are necessary to establish a continuous culture of free and acceptable elections in the country, not just a single successful election.
He said political parties must first play a responsible role in making local government elections free from violence and more participatory.
The CEC was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new committee of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at the Election Training Institute (ETI) in the capital’s Agargaon yes-terday.
The CEC said the beauty of democracy lies not in one-sided praise or criticism of elections, but in giving importance to all perspectives.
About local government elections, he said that although elections are being held without party symbols, different political parties have already begun announcing candidate nominations, creating fresh con-cerns.
Mentioning past experiences, he said local government elections often witness violence and loss of lives. The CEC urged the political parties to sit together and reach an understanding among themselves as the local government elections are held in a proper manner.
He emphasized increasing training and awareness among political parties, voters, journalists, and all con-cerned stakeholders.
The CEC said work is underway to amend the code of conduct and operational rules for local govern-ment elections.
After completing these preparations and consulting with the government, the election schedule will be announced, he said.
Jatiya Sangsad Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General A. H. M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, National Press Club President Helal Hafiz, DUJ President Shahidul Islam, and Broadcast Journalists Center President Fahim Ahmed also spoke with RFED President Kazi Emad Uddin Jebel in the chair.
