Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazl Md Sanaullah has said that the election roadmap is linked to several national initiatives and reform activities.
He emphasized the importance of internal preparations for holding free and fair elections and said: "We must consider these matters comprehensively."
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after a meeting with the Election System Reform Commission at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, he clarified that the roadmap was not specifically discussed during the meeting.
Instead, discussions focused on the necessary steps to ensure credible elections.
When asked whether discussions included the timing and process of the elections, Sanaullah replied: "We didn’t talk about timing. We discussed how to conduct elections properly and the necessary measures for ensuring a fair and transparent election."
He further said: "The roadmap is a broader issue tied to several national initiatives. The Election Commission always prepares for scenarios where elections could be called at any time, ensuring readiness. However, no discussions were held about specific dates or announcements."
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, the head of the Election System Reform Commission, said that the commission had a productive discussion with the newly formed Election Commission, addressing various election-related issues. He noted that the Election Commission is committed to holding free and impartial elections, and the Reform Commission is determined to provide full support.
"We will present a set of reform proposals to the government within the next month," Majumdar said.
He also said: "Some of these suggestions can be implemented by the Election Commission, while others will require collaboration with the government and political parties."
Majumdar highlighted discussions on the Election Commission's independence, authority, and accountability, emphasizing justice for electoral offenses and criticizing its past inaction on cancelling flawed elections before gazetting results.
Commissioner Sanaullah stressed restoring public trust in elections, with both sides agreeing to collaborate on comprehensive reform plans.
