Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Oct 23, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan today called upon the Election Commission (EC) to remain highly vigilant to ensure that controversial or questionable officials do not take part in any way in the process of the 13th National Parliament election.

He made the call during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon this morning, as he led a three-member BNP delegation.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Moyeen Khan said, “The main point we have emphasized is that those who are controversial or questionable should not be allowed to take part in any way in the upcoming election process, nor should they have any influence over it. The EC must remain very cautious in this regard. This was a key focus of our discussion.”

He added, “We have urged the government and the EC to awaken the conscience of the people of Bangladesh — to ensure that we do not take the wrong path, but stay on the right one. We want to bring a qualitative change in Bangladesh as a result of the mass uprising. All of you should forget the past misdeeds and come to the right path.”

Therefore, he said, the EC should take the necessary legal measures.

Ismail Jobiullah, a member of the Advisory Council to the BNP Chairperson, and Dr Mohammad Zakaria, former acting secretary of the Election Commission, were in the BNP delegation.

Moyeen Khan mentioned that the Representation of the People Order (RPO) outlines everything about how government officials and employees, who will conduct the elections, should behave, and that they will make arrangements to ensure a completely fair and impartial election.

“We are delighted to say that the attitude we have seen from the EC gives us confidence that they will be able to hold a fair and impartial election in the future."

Regarding the law and order situation, he said, “I believe that the people of Bangladesh have democracy in their hearts. They believe in democracy.”

“They will exercise their rights properly through fair and impartial voting, a democratic process they have not been able to use for the past 15 years,” he added.

He went on, saying, “When this belief is born in their minds, I believe the election will become a festive event, and there will be no fear regarding law and order.”

“But the main point is that the EC and the interim government — which will act as the government during the election — must make it clear that they have no interest in the election results,” he said, adding that this needs to be made openly understandable to the 180 million people of the country.

The BNP Standing Committee member further said that over the past 17 years, three elections were held in the country by politically motivating the administration, and what took place in the name of elections was nothing but a farce.

He added that these are not just his words — renowned international media and foreign representatives, from The Economist to The New York Times, have all said the same.

Moyeen Khan said, “These three elections were nothing but a farce. And who was responsible? It was those government officials who conducted the elections on behalf of the EC … We have emphasized this point strongly.”

He added that, in particular, the Awami League, which has shown a dictatorial nature over the past 15 years, cannot be expected to change completely within just 15 months. “Therefore, the EC must remain cautious, as this is the reality.”

He also noted that the EC does not have its own 1 million-strong manpower to conduct elections, and that is why it is very important to make them aware of this issue.

“They are already aware, but we still need to say these words,” he added.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar was also present at the meeting.