Decision on AL registration after official notification received: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin today said the Election Commission has not yet received the notification regarding the banning of Awami League's political activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act, and that a decision will be made after discussion once the official documents are in hand.

The CEC made the remarks this afternoon following a meeting with a delegation from the US-based organisation Carter Center at the EC building in Dhaka's Agargaon.

Nasir said, "Let the official notification come first. We are waiting for the it. Definitely, the Election Commission works for the country. We are equally concerned about this matter."

"When the sun rises in the sky, everything will be clearly visible," he said.

Speaking about the meeting with the Carter Center, he said, "The Carter group did not come as observers during the last three elections. This time, they are interested in coming. We have welcomed them and said we will invite everyone who has experience. We encourage all who work towards free and fair elections."

The CEC added, "The Carter Center has spoken with political parties and relevant stakeholders. They told us that everyone expressed their trust in this Election Commission. They wanted to know about our preparations for the upcoming election. We have informed them of all the preparations we have undertaken to fulfill our commitment to holding a free and fair election."

Following the meeting, Jonathan Stonestreet, head of the Carter Center delegation, said, "Our team is holding meetings with stakeholders as part of our pre-election assessment. As part of that process, we met with the CEC today. Previously, in 1968 and 2001, the founder of the Carter Center visited Bangladesh. We take election observation and experience-sharing in Bangladesh seriously."

The members of the Carter Center delegation are: Jonathan Stonestreet, senior associate director, Democracy Program; Tara Sharrif, senior associate director; Michael Baldassaro, data scientist; Sairah Zaidi, associate director, Democracy Program; Daniel Richardson, program associate, Peace Programs - Democracy Program; and Kazi Shahidul Islam, local assessment expert.