Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said that holding national elections in Bangladesh remains possible despite prevailing challenges in law and order.

The Election Commission is making independent preparations without any directives from the government, he added.

Speaking to BBC Bangla, the CEC addressed growing uncertainty over the timing of the next general elections and discussed the security situation, mob violence, and logistical hurdles facing the commission.

Asked when the elections are likely to be held, Nasir Uddin said: “It's very difficult for me to respond, because I myself don't know the exact date. I don't know the polling date. It is being said in the first half of April. That kind of thing will be communicated to us—with some idea that: please go ahead, this is the range.”

Responding to whether the government has officially informed the Election Commission about the election schedule, he added: “As you know, I also know that Eid-ul-Fitr—that is, before the month of Ramadan or in April. That is what he (Chief Adviser) has always been saying. I know what you know, what the countrymen know, from his statements. I also know that.”

When pressed further on whether the government has conveyed a definitive timeframe, he said: “No, it has not said anything like that. We assume—it is our assumption—that the time frame currently being discussed is Eid-ul-Fitr, early February before Ramadan, or possibly in the first half of April. It may be early April.”

The CEC revealed that the Commission had initially prepared for elections in December, based on an earlier statement by the chief advisor.

“We were preparing for December from the very beginning. Because then he said December to June. That is why we targeted December—from day one we started preparing ourselves,” Nasir Uddin said.

Asked if any timeline was given during his appointment, he clarified that no timeframe was specified. “But I assumed there would be an election. I first sat with my officers—what is needed to hold an election, what work we have to do, what work is left. They made us a chart detailing how long each task would take. At that time, we did not know December or any other timeline.”

He said the Commission intensified preparations after the Chief Adviser’s address to the nation on December 16 last year, during which he mentioned the election could be held either in December or June. “I was in Moulvibazar. Sitting there, I heard it in his speech.”

“After hearing this, we increased preparations, back-calculating from December. We have to announce our schedule at least two months before the election date as per our RPO (Representation of the People Order),” he added.

Nasir Uddin stressed that the Commission is operating independently, with no instructions from the administration.

“There is no guidance from the government regarding our preparations—no advice, no order, no instructions, nothing. We are making these preparations absolutely independently,” he stated.

He described his meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus as a courtesy visit, not agenda-based. 

He added: “Obviously, he is the head of the government. There is an election ahead. I have to deliver it. The EC has to deliver it. Obviously, the election came up in discussion. He just wanted to know what is the state of our preparation, how far we have progressed, what is our level of readiness.”

Nasir Uddin said he briefed the Chief Advisor on the Commission’s activities, plans, and projected timeline.

Asked about concerns from political parties that the environment is not conducive to holding elections, the CEC said, “Actually, we are not guided by the statements of politicians. Politicians talk about various things. Some parties talk about elections in February, then backtrack and say that elections cannot be held before reforms. This is political speech.”

On whether the fragile law and order situation and mob violence would pose a barrier, he admitted the challenges but remained optimistic. “It will be challenging. But it is possible. Challenging—because the law and order situation has improved a lot from what we were seeing in August last year.”

“When the election is held, you will see that everything is calm, and there will be no difficulties,” he said, adding that all political parties—big or small—have emphasized the need for fair elections.

“The people do not want mobs. But it has not been controlled so far. It seems that this is happening regularly,” he said, acknowledging the current reality but expressing confidence that the situation will stabilize by election time.

He also noted that the chief advisor’s press secretary has addressed law enforcement preparations, including roles of the police, army, and BGB. “Keeping these challenges in mind, the government is making its own preparations, and we are making ours. All these challenges are also on our minds. We are ready to address them. We will take all kinds of measures.”

Asked finally if law and order could ultimately be an obstacle, Nasir Uddin said: “I think the law and order situation will not be a problem for the elections we are preparing for a free, fair and credible election.”

SMS/