Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed that the upcoming national election and referendum will be held on schedule and under tight monitoring, saying the government is prepared to act immediately on any complaint or irregularity.
“We have to conduct good elections in any situation,” he said on Sunday after meeting a four-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the State Guest House Jamuna. “Any urgent information, complaint or opinion related to the election will be reported to us. We will bring it to the Election Commission’s attention right away, and the government will act if necessary.”
Yunus said polling centres across the country will soon be brought under surveillance. Most centres will have CCTV cameras installed by January, while officials at high-risk centres will be equipped with body cameras. All footage will be monitored from a central control room. “The recordings will help us respond immediately if anything goes wrong,” he said.
Jamaat’s delegation, led by Ameer Shafiqur Rahman and including Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Mia Golam Parwar and Rafiqul Islam Khan, raised several election-related concerns. Advisers Wahid Uddin Mahmud, Adilur Rahman Khan and Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan were present.
Jamaat leaders said their full campaign rollout will begin on January 22 and noted that the party has already started campaigning for a “yes” vote in the referendum. They said two separate campaigns will run simultaneously from that date.
Responding to questions about the legality of the government’s own “yes” campaign, Yunus said there is no barrier. “Some people are asking whether the government can campaign for a ‘yes’ vote, but after speaking to all relevant authorities, we confirmed that there is no legal obstacle. An interim government formed through a mass uprising has the responsibility to support reforms.”
He stressed that both the election and the referendum must be completed successfully and on time. “The election will be held on February 12, no matter what anyone says. This will not be a disorderly election. It is the responsibility of the government, the Election Commission and political parties to ensure a fair and festive atmosphere. We seek cooperation from all parties.”
Yunus said disputes at the local level will be addressed with participation from political representatives and relevant actors. A dedicated hotline will also be launched to receive all types of complaints during the election period.
Urging political unity, he called on all sides to work together regardless of the results. “Victory or defeat is part of democracy. What matters is delivering a successful election and working for the country afterwards.”