Wednesday, 23 October, 2024
Asif Nazrul, the law advisor to the interim government, has said that Bangladesh's next national elections could "realistically" take place by 2025.
Speaking on a late-night news analysis show on Channel I on Thursday, he said the interim government aims to establish a new Election Commission through a search committee. This newly formed body would then update the voter list and organize the election by next year.
"I feel there could be a realistic prospect of holding the elections next year, although many factors need to be considered. This is only a preliminary assumption," he noted.
Two months after the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, the Election Commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal resigned.
Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022, a six-strong search committee is required to fill vacant positions in the regulatory body.
The most recent Election Commission was appointed under this legislation.
After a wave of resignations post-Aug 5, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been filling vacancies gradually.
Nazrul said that efforts to establish a new Election Commission were underway, stressing the need to form a proper commission to avoid dubious electoral processes.
"To form a new Election Commission, a search committee needs to be established. The search committee requires the involvement of the Public Service Commission chairman. Accordingly, a new chairman was appointed to the PSC, which is also a process. Now, the search committee will be formed, followed by the Election Commission," he said.
Emphasising the importance of having an accurate voter list, he said, "The process has begun. The search committee will be formed shortly. Only the Election Commission can pass orders related to the voter list."
Discussing the steps involved, he added, "After forming the search committee, we'll establish the Election Commission, then update the voter list, and then conduct the elections."
In an interview with Reuters on Sept 24, army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman indicated that the elections could occur in 18 months following necessary reforms to the electoral process.
Addressing the timeline suggested by Waker, Nazrul said, "I'm not sure why the army chief specified that timeframe, but realistically, it may be possible to hold elections by next year."
When asked if the elections might happen by 2025, Nazrul said, "Yes, there are many factors involved. This is our preliminary assumption."
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Asif Nazrul, the law advisor to the interim government, has said that Bangladesh's next national elections could "realistically" take place by 2025.
Speaking on a late-night news analysis show on Channel I on Thursday, he said the interim government aims to establish a new Election Commission through a search committee. This newly formed body would then update the voter list and organize the election by next year.
"I feel there could be a realistic prospect of holding the elections next year, although many factors need to be considered. This is only a preliminary assumption," he noted.
Two months after the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, the Election Commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal resigned.
Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022, a six-strong search committee is required to fill vacant positions in the regulatory body.
The most recent Election Commission was appointed under this legislation.
After a wave of resignations post-Aug 5, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been filling vacancies gradually.
Nazrul said that efforts to establish a new Election Commission were underway, stressing the need to form a proper commission to avoid dubious electoral processes.
"To form a new Election Commission, a search committee needs to be established. The search committee requires the involvement of the Public Service Commission chairman. Accordingly, a new chairman was appointed to the PSC, which is also a process. Now, the search committee will be formed, followed by the Election Commission," he said.
Emphasising the importance of having an accurate voter list, he said, "The process has begun. The search committee will be formed shortly. Only the Election Commission can pass orders related to the voter list."
Discussing the steps involved, he added, "After forming the search committee, we'll establish the Election Commission, then update the voter list, and then conduct the elections."
In an interview with Reuters on Sept 24, army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman indicated that the elections could occur in 18 months following necessary reforms to the electoral process.
Addressing the timeline suggested by Waker, Nazrul said, "I'm not sure why the army chief specified that timeframe, but realistically, it may be possible to hold elections by next year."
When asked if the elections might happen by 2025, Nazrul said, "Yes, there are many factors involved. This is our preliminary assumption."
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