National Desk

The Commonwealth has expressed its readiness to provide any form of assistance to Bangladesh in conducting the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections, Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Friday.

The assurance was conveyed by Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Botchwey led a six-member delegation to the talks.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Akhtar Ahmed said, “The Commonwealth Secretary General specifically informed us that the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth are prepared to provide any assistance if requested.” He added that Botchwey expressed satisfaction upon learning that the United Kingdom is already supporting Bangladesh’s election process.

During the discussions, Botchwey showed interest in the EC’s preparations and progress, particularly regarding the participation of overseas voters. Akhtar Ahmed said, “We briefed them on the materials required and the measures being taken to ensure the successful inclusion of expatriate voters in Bangladesh’s elections for the first time in 53 years.”

The delegation reportedly expressed optimism, stating that despite the challenges, they are confident the initiative will succeed given the progress made.

On security and law and order, Akhtar Ahmed said, “We informed them that the country has been divided into three zones—red, yellow, and green—and we are managing law and order accordingly.”

Regarding women’s participation, the Commonwealth officials were briefed about the number of female voters and appreciated the statistics. They also expressed satisfaction that the voter list has been updated, with deceased individuals removed.

Addressing concerns about misinformation, fake news, and rumors, Akhtar Ahmed noted that the Commonwealth delegation acknowledged such issues can occur and emphasized the need for vigilance. “We informed them that we are continuously informing the public through media campaigns and will further enhance outreach programs gradually,” he said.

The Commonwealth Secretary General also stressed the importance of public trust in the electoral process and the critical role of awareness campaigns. “We informed her about our outreach initiatives and the expected cooperation of political parties, which we believe will contribute to achieving the desired outcomes,” Akhtar Ahmed added.

Botchwey arrived in Dhaka on Thursday for a five-day visit to engage with Bangladesh’s election authorities and assess preparations ahead of the national polls.