The upcoming election must be made a historic and memorable one, the Chief Adviser told UNOs

Calling the upcoming post-uprising national election a historic chance to build a new Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said it must be made memorable by ensuring it is conducted beautifully and fairly.

He gave the directives while briefing Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) nationwide via videoconference from the state guesthouse Jamuna on Wednesday (10 December). Divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and officials from the Cabinet Division also joined the session online.

“History has given us a new opportunity—one that future generations will not have,” the Chief Adviser told the UNOs. “If we seize it, we can build a new Bangladesh. If we fail, the nation will falter.”

He noted that although Bangladesh has held elections before, recent ones, he said, were “not elections but acts of deception” in the eyes of any sensible observer.

Stressing the significance of the moment, he said the upcoming election is unlike any routine responsibility—it is a historic obligation. “If we fulfill it properly, the day of this election will itself be remembered as historic.”

He added that the government’s ability to succeed rests on the UNOs’ commitment to carrying out their duties with integrity.

Highlighting both the national election and the referendum, he said the election will shape the next five years, while the referendum will shape the next hundred. “Through the referendum, we can fundamentally transform Bangladesh and lay the foundation of the new nation we aspire to build,” he said.

To the newly appointed UNOs, he emphasised that their foremost task is to ensure a peaceful and joyful voting experience.

He urged them to visit every polling centre in their areas and consult with stakeholders, local communities and colleagues to ensure thorough preparation for a well-organised election.