The interim government has sent a letter to the Election Commission (EC) instructing it to prepare for holding the 13th national parliamentary election and a referendum on the same day, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has said.

He made the disclosure on Saturday (22 November) while speaking at a workshop on elections organised by the Asian Network for Free Elections in Gulshan, Dhaka.

The CEC said that a law on the referendum would be enacted next week. Once the law is passed, the commission will begin its preparations for the referendum.

Terming the move to hold the election and referendum on the same day a challenging task for the EC, he noted that no previous commission had ever faced such a situation.

He said that the previous Election Commission did not have to deal with the level of challenges the current commission is dealing with. “All procedures are being followed in accordance with the law. We do not have a second option,” he added.

Highlighting the public’s high expectations surrounding the election, the CEC said: “Over the last two to three days, we have understood the extent of these expectations. This is extremely challenging for us. Whatever challenges come ahead, our main goal is to present the nation with a transparent election. This commitment has also been made to the political parties.”

Our main goal is a free and fair election — nothing more, nothing less. We have strong confidence in this,” he asserted.

He acknowledged the country’s complex political reality but expressed optimism that the situation would calm down after a transparent election. “I believe our political leaders are responsible and wise,” he added.