Expressing satisfaction over the steps taken so far as part of election-centric preparations, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said the next one week would be very crucial as the twin elections – national election and referendum – are scheduled to take place on February 12.

“We are satisfied. We are very happy,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters quoting the Chief Adviser as saying at a high-profile meeting on the election preparation held at the State Guest House Jamuna.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prof Yunus said the main challenge is to make the voting ‘perfect’ and described the next week as very crucial.

The Chief Adviser expressed satisfaction over the election campaign across the country that is taking place in an ‘enthusiastic, peaceful and cordial’ atmosphere.

He sees such a smooth campaign as a positive sign for the country’s political culture and hopes that the election will be festive and safe where people, including women will join with the whole family.

“Candidates are not using abusive language against one another, nor is there any unruly behavior, which is a very positive change for our political history and culture," Press Secretary Alam quoted the Chief Adviser as saying.

The meeting, chaired by the Chief Adviser, reviewed overall preparations, security deployment and the challenges ahead. 

The Chief Adviser hoped that the election festival will be in full swing and women will vote happily - the whole family will join the voting festival together. “I hope that this election will be memorable in history.”

The Press Secretary said there are about 43,000 polling stations all over Bangladesh, out of which 25,700 are being given body-on cameras, and a demonstration of how these body-worn cameras work was given in the meeting first.

During the demonstration, the Chief Adviser spoke to those who were carrying body-on cameras at random five places.

Responding to a question, the Press Secretary said there is no risk to the safety of journalists.

PASHA Not Getting Cards

The Election Commission (EC) has postponed its decision to issue more than 10,000 election observer cards to the so-called non-governmental organisation People’s Association for Social Advancement (PASHA) for the national election.

Briefing reporters after a high-level meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Saturday night, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said an NGO named PASHA had applied to appoint 10,000 election observers.

“The Election Commission conducted an inquiry into the organisation. After the inquiry, the EC was not convinced of PASHA’s capacity. As a result, the distribution of election observation cards to the organisation has been postponed,” Azad said, quoting EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Azad made the remarks at a press conference held in front of the state guesthouse Jamuna after the meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also briefed reporters on the overall outcomes of the meeting, which focused on election preparations.

Azad said no political involvement has been identified in PASHA’s case so far, but investigations are still ongoing.

Prof Yunus happy over polls preparations, says next ‘week very crucial’

At the beginning of the meeting, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus said the main challenge is to ensure a “perfect” voting process and described the coming week as very crucial.

An investigative report titled ‘One-person-based PASHA giving 10,000 election observers’ was published in Prothom Alo on Friday.

The report revealed that the organisation is run by a single individual who has converted a room in his house into PASHA’s office.