Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday reaffirmed that the Election Commission will stand firm and not yield to any pressure in its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections.
“The Election Commission will not bend to any pressure,” he said while addressing a training session for upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) in city.
He made the remarks at a training programme on election management for upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon, Dhaka, ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.
The CEC urged all field administration officials engaged in election duties to carry out their responsibilities with honesty, neutrality, and respect for the law.
“We are dreaming of a new Bangladesh,” Nasir Uddin said. “One of the main reasons for our country’s current troubles is that we are not respectful of the law. Civilised nations uphold the rule of law, and we must nurture that culture.”
Emphasising the importance of justice and fairness, he added, “We want rule of law, not rule by law. Laws are not made to rule over people. We want the rule of law.”
Calling on officials to maintain integrity and morale, the CEC said, “Our brigadier sir (EC Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah) has said that we will not bend to any pressure. I want to convey this message to you. You too must not yield to any pressure and should remain steadfast in your lawful decisions.”
He assured the officials of full institutional backing, saying, “We will provide complete support from our side, and the Election Commission will not bow to any wrongful pressure. We will issue no unlawful order, and all our directives will strictly follow the relevant election laws.”
Highlighting the need for proper coordination, the CEC said, “Coordination is extremely important during elections. You must work closely with law enforcement agencies, presiding officers, polling officers, and the central and district monitoring cells.”
Warning against delayed responses to incidents, he added, “Our brigadier sir has said that mobile magistrates often arrive late—after polling centres and boxes have already been seized. You must ensure such situations never occur.”
