Senior journalists on Monday urged the Election Commission to demonstrate firmness and a strong commitment to ensure a level-playing field and effectively fight abuse of AI and social media for holding the 13th parliamentary election in a fair and festive manner.
““Those who conducted the last elections are now on the dock (being made accountable). So, there is apprehension that you may face the same fate. You have to act, do or die. Perhaps a more dangerous authoritarian may sit on our shoulders. So, it is time to show firmness. We expect it from you,” Kaler Kantho Editor and Jatiya Press Club President Hasan Hafiz.
Senior journalists, including editors of leading print and online media outlets, placed a series of recommendations at an electoral dialogue chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital in the afternoon.
Hasan Hafiz recommended forming a surveillance committee in every electoral area involving local dignitaries from various professions to intensify cyber monitoring to check the spread of AI-driven propaganda. “You have already identified AI as a big challenge,” he said.
Noting that conspiracies are there at home and abroad to spoil the election, he urged the EC to clarify its stance regarding the Awami League, whose political activities remain suspended. “You can’t exclude the Awami League voters and they are citizens of the country. Though they still don't show remorse or become repented, this election can’t be held keeping them left. You should make your stance clear about it before the national and the international community,” he added.
Daily Jugantor Editor Abdul Hye Sikder underscored the need for maintaining law and order to ensure a festive voting environment. “The people of the country want to cast vote amid a festive atmosphere. But the current law and order situation is very fragile in the country,” he said.
He said holding a fair election will be a very risky task if security concerns persist.
Prothom Alo Executive Editor Sajjad Sharif said there were still many uncertainties, rumours and false information about the upcoming polls. But the head of the government and the CEC have both assured that the election will be held and that it will be a good one.
“People have long waited for a transparent, spontaneous, and joyous election in the current situation achieved through blood and sacrifice,” he said.
He, however, expressed concerns over the fragile law and order situation, weak condition of institutions and the administration, the growing use of money and muscle power in politics. The EC must ensure candidates’ affidavits are scrutinized,” he added.
Sajjad Sharif also warned that public opinion could be shaped by financing on the digital space and Awami League grabbed the power for a long time by creating a digital force and financing for digital propaganda. The EC should address the issue, he added.
“This commission may try to do many things. But, people will want to see how strong the backbone or moral power of the Election Commission is strong. For this, make visible everything you want to do, set an example in a couple of cases,” he added.
The event also featured speeches from senior journalists, including Financial Express Editor Shamsul Huq Zahid, Daily Sangram Editor Azam Mir Shahidul Islam, UNB Editor Mahfuzur Rahman, BanglaNews24 Editor Touhidul Islam Mintu, Khobor Sangjog Editor Sheikh Nazrul Islam, Jago News Editor KM Ziaul Haque, Acting Editor of Ajker Patrika Kamrul Hasan, Bangladesh Betar Director General ASM Zahid, Nayadiganta Executive Editor Masumur Rahman Khalili and Daily Star Head of News Ziaul Haque.
In response, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin said they are aware of the growing threat of AI abuse and he sought cooperation from the Canadian High Commissioner in Bangladesh in this regard during a recent meeting.
Quoting the Canadian envoy, he said, “It is a serious problem in my country (Canada) as well. We (Canada) tried hard and enacted many laws but can’t control to a large extent. We could check it to some extent, but we can’t claim success. We'd have to face a lot of troubles with AI. We will try our best to present the nation a fair,” the CEC assured in his concluding remark.”
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the abuse of AI and social media is “seriously a global challenge.”
“I was assigned by the Commission to meet with different electoral bodies, and I held discussions with more than two dozen of them. All expressed the same concern. More than half of them said elections today are ‘free but not fair’ due to AI and social media intervention,” he said.
Sanaullah said the global statistics show nearly 50 percent of such content sources cannot be traced, and many operate from outside the country boundaries.
He said the UNDP has the technical platform and capacity to deploy monitoring mechanisms and the EC is taking support from that platform.
“Besides, we are integrating our domestic capabilities—police, BTRC, BTMC, and intelligence agencies—to establish a central monitoring structure,” he said.
The EC won’t apply any restrictive method like shutting down social media or slowing internet speed as it might work for a day or two, not for three or four months. “Instead, our strategy is to enhance the flow of authentic and true information, the more falsehoods will become marginal,” Sanaullah explained.
Three other election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad and Anwarul Islam Sarker were also present.