Advisers adopt resolution praising all concerned for holding historic, festive polls

The Council of Advisers today adopted a formal resolution expressing gratitude to all concerned for their outstanding contribution in holding a successful, historic and festive national election. The advisers approved the resolution at its 61st weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) here with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Later, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon to share outcomes of the meeting.

He said, during the meeting, the advisers described the 13th parliamentary elections as "a successful and historic festive election" while the Chief Adviser thanked all concerned for their outstanding performance in holding the polls. The press secretary said that members of the advisory council also individually expressed their appreciation. He said the Council of Advisers extended special thanks to Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury for his ministry's role in holding the elections, observing that Bangladesh might not have ever witnessed such a better election.

The advisers also extended thanks to all law enforcement agencies under the Home Ministry, including the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and Ansar, and the Armed Forces for their praise-worthy performance to make the election successful and historic once. Shafiqul Alam said that the Council of Advisers also approved a vote of thanks to immediate past Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid for his contribution to hold the elections in a free, fair, peaceful and festive manner by successfully managing the administration.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan moved the thanksgiving motion while the Council approved it. The advisory council also observed that this election achieved unprecedented success in many respects. One major point highlighted was that, for the first time, a strong opposition will be visible in parliament-comprising individuals who were victims of enforced disappearance and killings, as well as those who were in the front lines of the July Revolution-ensuring broad-based representation of Bangladeshi society.

The advisers also highlighted the representation of the people, who were victims of enforced disappearance and killings, in the treasury bench in the parliament. The Council of Advisers also noted that, unlike in previous elections when post-election violence against minorities had been reported, no such incidents have been heard this time. Religious minority communities and female voters were seen voting in a festive mood without reports of attacks on their homes or properties, they observed.

The advisory council praised the extensive use of technology including body-worn cameras, ‘Surokkha App’ and CCTV cameras, in managing the election for the first time since the Chief Adviser personally observed live feeds from Police Headquarters and spoke with officials at 17 polling centres in real time through body-worn cameras. The council termed this use of technology unprecedented and expressed hope that expanded deployment in future elections would yield even better results.

Prof Yunus observed that the body-worn cameras will now become a key component of election management in Bangladesh, enabling real-time monitoring of voting processes. The advisory council also hailed the interim government’s initiative of introducing the postal ballots to involve the Bangladeshi diaspora in the elections. The advisers also praised the Election Commission’s firm and independent role to make the election a successful, free, fair and festive one. They noted that this was the least violent election in Bangladesh’s history. By comparison, the 1991 election following the fall of Ershad—often considered the best to date—saw violence in 87 polling centres, whereas this election witnessed only marginal incidents, the advisers observed.

During the meeting, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury informed that though deaths of four people were reported during the election time, only one was genuinely related to election violence. Regarding the post-election incident involving a girl in Hatiya, he informed that a probe committee has been formed to investigate the matter thoroughly. Referring to international election observers, the Council of Advisers observed that all the foreign observers including the European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission, Commonwealth, International Republican Institute (IRI) and ANFREL highly praised the polls management.

During the meeting, the Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain informed that foreign ministers from SAARC countries have been invited, along with the foreign minister of Qatar, to join the oath taking ceremony of the Members of Parliament and cabinet members of the incoming government on Tuesday. Shafiqul Alam said that the meeting concluded with the Chief Adviser’s remarks, “We are lucky people who got the opportunity to serve the nation”. He also said that prior to the advisory council meeting; the Cabinet Committee on Pay Scale held its first meeting and discussed various aspects of the pay scale implementation.

Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Shuchismita Tithi were present at the briefing.