Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday expressed his confidence about a fair environment for the upcoming 12th national parliamentary polls, set to be held in early January.
The CEC was speaking at a workshop titled “12th National Parliamentary Election: Expectations and Reality” at Nirbachan Bhaban.
He said: "We feel very confident. Recently, the government has repeatedly promised fair elections… the government has never made this promise before. This is the first time the government has made such a promise.”
“If politicians do not create a favourable environment for the commission, it will be difficult to hold elections. And if the environment is favourable, it will be helpful for the commission,” said the CEC.
Pointing out that whether the election will be good or not depends on everyone’s “political will,” he said that there must be an internal political will.
“It will not come from me. It should come from politics or it should come from the government.”
Kazi Habibul Awal said the commission wants to know the people’s expectations about the election.
“We want to look ahead. I would like to know the expectations of the people… If we can do that, we will be enriched,” the CEC said.
Addressing the guests who attended the event, the CEC said the commission has tried to present the subject in a new way.
“Those who are not involved in politics, the intellectual community, they are scholars. I want to know the people's expectations from them… Contrary to expectations there are positive and negative realities. If you discuss it academically it will be helpful for us to understand.”
He said the country is sharply divided when it comes to politics and politicians. “Political debates are very sharp and aggressive.”
“I will not go there today. We want to look ahead,” said the CEC.
