Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker on Wednesday urged Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) not to be afraid while discharging election duties, assuring them that the Election Commission (EC) to stand beside them for doing the right things.
‘’The message from the Election Commission to you is— you don’t have no fear. Do the right things. The Election Commission is with you," he said while addressing a training event for Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) in the city.
Anwarul Islam however warned the field-level officials against any intentional wrongdoing, saying, “If anyone acts with ill-intention, you will fall in serious trouble. If you create problems at the field level deliberately in unjust ways with ill-intention, you won’t be spared,’’ he said.
The commissioner asked the UNOs to discharge the election duty with courage maintaining impartiality and professionalism.
The event titled Training of Trainers (TOT) over polls management was held with participation of 50 UNOs at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in the Agargaon area ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election planned to be held in early February 2026.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin addressed the function as the chief guest, while three other election commissioners spoke on it.
Another election commission Brig Gen (Retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the registration process for expatriate voters through the Postal Vote BD app is likely to begin on November 16 next.
IRI pre-election observation team meets EC Sanaullah
Speaking about the new system, Sanaullah said the application is now on trial run. ‘’Hopefully, by mid-November– November 16, we’ll launch it for public use,” he said, adding that only 435 voters cast their ballots through the postal voting system in the last 12th parliamentary election.
Election commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said there is no alternative to holding the next election in a fair manner. ‘’If the next election could not be held in a fair manner too, we will be a disgraced nation,’’ he said.
Pointing at the government officials, he said subordinates are not bound to carry out illegal orders.
Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmad asked the UNOs to forget the electoral training they gained before the last national election.
She suggested the officials not to be unnecessarily courageous rather perform their duty rightfully and lawfully.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed presided over the event, while ETI Director General Muhammad Hasanuzzaman delivered the welcome speech.