The upcoming local government elections will be held without party symbols, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced today. However, the exact dates for the polls are yet to be finalized.
The CEC made the announcement on Monday (May 18) at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon during the inauguration of the new committee of the Reporters Forum for Elections and Democracy (RFED) and a reception for its outgoing members.
Despite the absence of official party symbols, CEC Nasir Uddin noted that various political parties are already backing specific candidates, which could intensify the electoral atmosphere.
"We want to establish a culture of good elections," the CEC stated. "Our goal is to ensure that not just this one, but all future elections are genuinely fair and peaceful."
Urging political parties to engage in dialogue to prevent violence, the CEC highlighted the tragic history of casualties in past local polls. He pointed out that competition in rural areas often becomes highly intense, sometimes triggering deep conflicts within the same families or communities.
The CEC emphasized that the Election Commission cannot deliver a successful election in isolation. He called for collective cooperation from law enforcement, local administration, political parties, candidates, journalists, and voters, adding that the Commission will launch extensive public awareness campaigns ahead of the polls.
