Upcoming election must be ‘the best in history’: EC

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker today said the scheduled February 12 polls “must be the best in history” while the commission believes it to be so as well.

“The Election Commission is very optimistic that this is truly going to be the best election in the history,” he told a meeting with field level administrative and police officers including divisional commissioners and police range chiefs or DIGs at the Nirbachon Bhaban in the capital.

Sarker asked the officials to ensure strong coordination in conducting the election warning if the “Commission will not take it lightly if it sees even slightest lapses in coordination”.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin later addressed as well the officials at the meeting chaired by EC’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Commissioners of all eight divisions, eight deputy inspectors general (DIG) and deputy commissioners and police supers of all the 64 districts and the field level EC officials attended the meeting.

According to the EC a total of 226 officials were present at the meeting.

“The Election Commission is an independent body, not accountable to anyone. The body is only accountable to the law (and) since you are part of the Election Commission (now), you are also responsible only to the law,” Sarker told the officials.

He told the officials they had no reason be frightened.

“(But) if we fail to successfully hold the elections on February 12, 2026, we all will fail. Bangladesh will fail,” Sarker said.

He said “except for one incident”, an apparent reference to assassination of candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, all election related activities were underway smoothly at the field level.

He urged the field level officials to go out on the field on behalf of the Election Commission and move together.