Will make every effort to ensure free, fair, and credible elections for the nation

The newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), AMM Nasir Uddin, has vowed to take all necessary steps to deliver a free, fair, and credible parliamentary election for the nation.

In an interview with a private television channel on Thursday, Nasir Uddin stated, “To uphold the people’s voting rights, I aim to gift the nation an election that is free, fair, and credible. My focus will be on identifying and addressing areas that require attention to achieve this goal.”

Formation of the New Election Commission

Earlier in the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin formed a new Election Commission (EC) with AMM Nasir Uddin as its head. According to a Cabinet Division notification, the appointments were made under Article 118(1) of the Bangladesh Constitution.

The newly appointed CEC is joined by four election commissioners: retired additional secretary Anwarul Islam Sarkar, retired district and sessions judge Abdur Rahmanel Masud, retired joint secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmed, and Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.

Optimism About Electoral Reforms

During the interview, Nasir Uddin expressed hope regarding the ongoing work of the electoral reform commission. “I consider myself fortunate that a reform commission, under the leadership of an expert like Badiul Alam, is already operational. This will help identify challenges more efficiently. My role will be to address and close any gaps found,” he said.

Ensuring Fair Elections

When asked about his plans, Nasir Uddin emphasized creating a voting environment where citizens can freely choose their candidates. “That is my commitment and my endeavor,” he declared, while noting that he had yet to receive official documentation regarding his responsibilities.

“This is an extremely significant responsibility, and in the current context, it is even more critical,” he remarked. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by people to secure voting rights, citing challenges faced during the elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024, when many were unable to exercise their rights.

“I take on this responsibility with the aim of restoring those rights. Lessons from the past three elections will guide me in implementing measures to prevent such issues from recurring,” the CEC affirmed.

Background of the New CEC

Nasir Uddin, the country’s 14th Chief Election Commissioner, is a member of the 1979 batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS). An Economics graduate from Chittagong University, he has held several key positions, including information secretary, energy secretary, health secretary, and a member of the Planning Commission.

Selection Process

The new EC was formed following recommendations from a Search Committee established on October 31, 2023, under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022. Led by Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, the six-member committee proposed two names for each vacant position within 15 working days. Based on these recommendations, the president finalized the appointments, which were announced through notifications on Thursday.

Context of the EC Reshuffle

The new EC replaces the previous commission, which resigned en masse following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Then CEC Kazi Habibul Awal and four election commissioners stepped down a month after Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted amidst a student-led mass uprising. The 12th parliament was dissolved on August 6, 2024.

The outgoing commission had conducted the controversial 12th National Parliamentary Election on January 7, 2024, which was boycotted by the BNP and allied parties over demands for an impartial Election Commission and elections under a non-partisan caretaker government.

This marks only the second time in Bangladesh’s history that an entire Election Commission has resigned before completing its term, the first being the Justice MA Aziz-led commission in 2007, following a military-backed caretaker government taking power during a state of emergency.