(BSS) - Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said today that the most critical challenge of the government and the Election Commission is to ensure that the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections are conducted in a free, fair and impartial manner.

"People have lost confidence in the election system, the Election Commission and the administrative machinery involved in the electoral process. We are working tirelessly to restore this lost trust," the CEC said.

He was addressing a views-exchange meeting at the Regional Election Office`s conference room in Rangpur. The event was organised by the Rangpur Regional Election Office and presided over by Regional Election Officer Md Dulal Talukder.

The meeting was attended by additional regional election officers, senior district and upazila election officials and election officers from all eight districts of the Rangpur division.

Reiterating the commission`s commitment to neutrality and transparency, the CEC stated, "As long as the Election Commission remains conscious of its responsibilities, all actions will strictly follow the rules, regulations and laws. We will not deviate from this path."

Highlighting the need for public participation, the CEC acknowledged the growing apathy among voters.

"Over the years, people have become disengaged from the voting process. Many no longer feel the urge to visit polling stations. A mindset has developed where people assume their votes don`t matter, that someone else will cast it anyway. Changing this mentality is one of our biggest challenges," he said.

He emphasized that improved law and order is a prerequisite for credible elections. "The law and order situation is currently stable and we aim to make it even better so that citizens can vote peacefully and without fear."

The CEC called for the cooperation of journalists to raise awareness and promote voter engagement. "Awareness remains key and the media plays a vital role in this regard. We welcome both the cooperation and the constructive criticism of professional journalists," he said.

He, however, expressed concerns over misinformation and the unregulated use of digital platforms. "Misuse of artificial intelligence has become a greater threat than traditional weapons. While we do not see ethical journalism as a challenge, those who spread misinformation via social media without proper training or ethics pose a serious problem," he said.

"Various misleading videos targeting the Chief Adviser and myself are circulated on social media without verification. Many people take these unofficial contents at face value and are misled. I urge everyone not to share such materials without fact-checking. We need responsible journalism to combat this challenge."

The CEC also revealed that the Election Commission is taking steps to exclude individuals with a history of misconduct from poll-related duties. "While we can`t bring in people from abroad to conduct elections, we are working strategically to ensure that only credible personnel are involved."

He recalled the elections of 1991 and 1996 widely regarded as free and fair, conducted by the people of this country. "We must place our faith in the people. If we can convince them of our sincerity and commitment, we believe they will rise to the occasion and uphold democratic values."

Later in the day, the CEC is scheduled to attend another views-exchange meeting at 3:30 pm at the Rangpur Divisional Commissioner`s conference room as the chief guest.