Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday said the upcoming Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary by-election will be conducted in a manner that earns appreciation, similar to the 13th parliamentary election.
“Insha’Allah, I can guarantee that just as we conducted the 13th parliamentary election, which received appreciation at home and abroad, you will similarly appreciate the way this by-election is held,” he told reporters.
The CEC made the remarks after visiting the monitoring cell set up at Nirbachan Bhaban to oversee the Thakurgaon-1 by-election in real time from Dhaka.
He said the Election Commission (EC) has taken all necessary measures to ensure a fair election, scheduled to be held on 29 October.
Nasir Uddin said an adequate number of law enforcement personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order during the by-election.
He said the monitoring cell would function in the same way as it did during the 13th parliamentary election, allowing the EC to monitor the situation centrally and intervene at the appropriate time if needed.
The CEC said the overall environment in the election field was currently good.
According to the election schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers expired at 5:00pm on Sunday. The nomination papers will be scrutinised on 29 September, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is 7 October. Voting will be held on 29 October from 8am to 4pm.
Meanwhile, the EC held a meeting with representatives of law enforcement agencies at Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday afternoon ahead of the by-election.
Other election commissioners attended the meeting chaired by the CEC.
Asked about the meeting, Nasir Uddin said an adequate number of law enforcement personnel would remain deployed in the field to keep the law and order situation under control during the election.
