The Election Commission has decided to conduct the upcoming national elections exclusively using paper ballots, foregoing the electronic voting machine (EVM) system.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin confirmed this decision during a media briefing at the Agargaon Election Building in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
The CEC stated, "We have started preparing for the national elections from day one. All necessary preparations are in place to conduct the elections within the timeframe indicated by the Chief Advisor."
He emphasized that the commission is prioritizing the national elections. However, no instructions regarding local government elections have been received from the Chief Advisor so far.
On the matter of delimitation, the CEC assured that it would be conducted fairly. "If delimitations in the past were designed to favor or disadvantage any candidate, they will be investigated.
The delimitation process will adhere strictly to the 2001 criteria or other relevant current standards, ensuring fairness and justice," he said.
Addressing the voter list, the CEC acknowledged significant inconsistencies and outlined plans to prepare a revised final voter list within two months.
"We will collect information through a house-to-house survey, remove deceased voters, verify the details of voters who are absent or abroad, and eliminate duplicate entries," he explained.
Regarding the roadmap for the elections, the CEC clarified that the commission would act in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Advisor.
While no formal roadmap will be published, there will be an internal plan guiding the Election Commission's activities.
Earlier, on Monday, Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed stated that the Bangladesh Election Commission is prepared to hold national elections by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
In his address to the nation on Victory Day morning, Chief Advisor to the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, suggested that national elections could take place in late 2025 or the first half of 2026, contingent on electoral reforms and the accurate compilation of the voter list.
