National Desk
The Commonwealth has expressed its readiness to provide any form of assistance to Bangladesh in conducting the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections, Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Saturday.
The assurance was conveyed by Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Botchwey led a six-member delegation to discuss the electoral preparations.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Akhtar Ahmed stated that the Secretary General emphasized that the Commonwealth, comprising 56 member countries, is prepared to provide support if requested by Bangladesh. She also expressed satisfaction that the United Kingdom is already assisting in the electoral process.
During the discussions, the delegation showed keen interest in understanding the Election Commission’s preparations, particularly regarding logistical arrangements for the participation of overseas voters. The senior secretary noted that the Commonwealth delegation was optimistic about the successful inclusion of expatriate voters in Bangladesh’s national election for the first time in 53 years.
“The Commonwealth acknowledged that managing this historic inclusion is a challenge, but they expressed confidence that the Election Commission will succeed given the current progress,” Akhtar Ahmed added.
Regarding the country’s law and order situation, the EC informed the delegation that Bangladesh has been divided into three zones—red, yellow, and green—to manage security concerns effectively.
On women’s participation in the election, the delegation was briefed on the number of female voters, which they appreciated. They were also satisfied to learn that the voter list has been updated, with deceased voters removed.
The delegation raised concerns over misinformation, fake news, and rumors during the election period. Akhtar Ahmed said the Election Commission assured them that public awareness efforts are ongoing, with regular communication through media channels, and these efforts would be further strengthened.
He also noted that Secretary General Botchwey emphasized the importance of public trust in the electoral process and highlighted the critical role of voter awareness campaigns. “We informed the delegation about our outreach program and expressed confidence that cooperation from political parties would help achieve a credible and transparent election,” he said.
The Commonwealth Secretary General arrived in Dhaka on Thursday for a five-day official visit to observe and support the electoral preparations in Bangladesh.