Preparations are intensifying for the much-awaited 13th parliamentary elections in the context of the political transformation in Bangladesh. The chief advisor to the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has directed the country’s law enforcement agencies to complete all-out preparations by December.
Important announcement at press briefing
According to the press secretary, about 800,000 law enforcement officers will be deployed in this election. Never before have such a large number of forces participated in an election. Political analysts believe that this will create a new precedent. The announcement was made by the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam in front of journalists at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital on Wednesday (July 9) night. He said,
সুষ্ঠু নির্বাচনের জন্য আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর সব সদস্যদের আগামী ডিসেম্বরের মধ্যে প্রশিক্ষণ সম্পন্ন করতে হবে।
Translation: All members of the law enforcement agencies must complete training by December for fair elections.
He further said,
নির্বাচনের সময় ১৮-৩২ বছর বয়সি ভোটারদের আলাদা বুথ রাখা যায় কিনা- সে বিষয় নিয়েও আলোচনা হয়েছে।
Translation: There was also discussion on whether separate booths could be set up for voters aged 18-32 during the election.
The initiative to hold these elections is against the backdrop of important political changes.
On August 5, 2023, the fascist Awami League government was overthrown through a historic uprising by students and the public.
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Then, on August 8, an interim government took office, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
This government has promised to hold national elections as soon as possible with the aim of re-establishing a democratic environment. Among the political parties, the BNP and its allies have been demanding free elections under a non-partisan government since the beginning.
In light of such demands, the interim government’s chief advisor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has always said that a free and fair election will be held between December 2025 and June 2026.
In continuation of this, Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman met in an important meeting in London on June 13. Since that meeting, the election heat in the political arena has been gradually increasing.
Source: Jugantor
