Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has urged domestic observer organisations not to appoint individuals affiliated with politics or political parties. He made the appeal during an introductory meeting with local observer organisations on Tuesday (25 November), stressing that he wants the election to be observed through the eyes of independent monitors.
The dialogue between the Election Commission and representatives of domestic observer organisations is ongoing at the Election Commission office. This year, the EC has registered 81 organisations, and 41 of them were invited to the day-long session in the morning.
Nasir Uddin said, “Election observer organisations are partners of the Election Commission. We want to oversee the entire election process through the eyes of observers to ensure a fair, smooth, and credible election.”
He issued strict instructions that field staff appointed by these organisations must not engage in any political activities or campaigns.
“Delivering a credible election to the nation is a commitment that the Election Commission cannot achieve alone. Everyone must fulfill this responsibility together. We want to see this election through your eyes. If your observation is biased or improper, our understanding of the election will not be accurate,” he added.
Highlighting the need for training, the CEC said all appointees, especially new ones, should receive immediate orientation and training on election procedures and the electoral system. He noted that the behaviour of field staff affects both the organisation’s reputation and the perception of the Election Commission.
He also requested observers to report on the performance of returning officers, police officers, and other officials according to the law, and to assess whether electoral codes of conduct are being followed based on field realities.
The CEC emphasised that any management or procedural lapses identified by observers would help reform and improve future election processes. He underlined the importance of observer impartiality and warned that any political involvement by those assigned to observation could undermine the entire process.