Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday said the country’s transition from the current critical time depends on the next parliamentary election.
“Bangladesh now stands at a very critical moment. Which direction we will move towards as a nation and as a country, and how we will walk along the path of democracy — these things depend on the next election,” he said after inspecting a training program of Ansar-VDP members in the city’s Bhatara area.
The program was held as part of a nationwide mock drill on polling centre security for the upcoming national election and the 4th phase of the 2025–26 basic training for Ansar members.
Nasir Uddin said he is not only the chief election commissioner, but also a citizen of Bangladesh. “As a citizen of Bangladesh, I also have a responsibility. What kind of Bangladesh should we leave for the future, or in what position should we keep Bangladesh, these thoughts keep me thinking all the time,” he said.
Describing the mock drill as a “comforting” sign for polling centre security, the CEC called upon the Ansar and VDP members to utilize their extensive grassroots network to counter misinformation and propaganda during the election.
Terming the ongoing training an “investment”, he said: “The Ansar-VDP force will carry one of the biggest responsibilities in the coming election. Training is an investment — the more they train, the more confident and efficient they will become in performing their duties.”
The CEC warned that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to spread false information on social media. “Do not share anything without verifying it. Ansar members can play a crucial role in raising this awareness at the grassroots level,” he said.
Highlighting new voting facilities, Nasir Uddin said this time, even polling officials and staff engaged in election duties will be able to cast their votes. “To make this possible, the EC will launch a ‘Postal Voting App’ on November 16, through which officials on duty can register to vote via postal ballot,” he said.
The CEC also said the Commission is taking a special step to ensure voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis and citizens under legal custody (detainees in jails).
He expressed the hope that trained Ansar-VDP members would perform their duties with responsibility and play a vital role in the country’s journey towards democracy.
Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud also spoke at the function.
