Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, has clearly stated that there is no room for any kind of bias in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.
This election is one that will determine the country’s fate and change the country, so it must be fair at any cost, Yunus said during a meeting at the chief adviser’s residence in Jamuna with a four-member delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The delegation, led by NCP convener Nahid Islam, included the party’s central election management committee chairman and spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, secretary Monira Sharmin, and head of the subcommittee on legal support, Zahidul Islam Musa. From the government side, the meeting was also attended by adviser on cultural affairs Mostafa Sarwar Faruki and special assistant on ICT Foyez Tayyab.
At the meeting, NCP leaders shared their various observations and concerns about the current election situation. They called on the government to be more vocal to ensure a "level playing field" in the election. In response, the chief adviser said: “If there are any complaints or suggestions regarding the election, inform the government immediately. The government will take strict action against lawbreakers.”
He further mentioned that, to ensure neutrality in the administration, extensive transfers and rotations have been carried out in the field administration through a lottery system. Most polling centers will be brought under CCTV surveillance by mid-January, and at risky centers, officials will have body cameras, which will be monitored directly from the control room.
At the meeting, NCP leaders said that party leaders and activists at all levels are actively campaigning in favor of a “Yes” vote in the referendum. On this matter, the chief adviser said: “We are trying to explain to the public why a ‘Yes’ vote is necessary in the referendum and what will result from it. We also call on all political parties to participate in this process.”
He added that making the election festive is a joint responsibility of the government, the commission, and political parties. In this regard, he expressed hope for sincere cooperation from all parties.