Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday said that the next national election is likely to be held in the first half of February, as the Election Commission (EC) intensifies preparations across the country.

Talking to reporters on Saturday afternoon following a meeting with the Rangpur divisional administration, the CEC said the Commission is actively coordinating with divisional and local election officials to ensure smooth holding of the polls.

He warned that voting in any constituency will be suspended immediately if disorder breaks out at any polling centre.

“No kind of chaos will be tolerated,” he said, adding that any official accused of irregularities, corruption, or bribery will be barred from election duties.

The CEC also said that action will be taken against all presiding officers found responsible for misconduct during the previous election.

Admitting that public trust in the electoral process has eroded, he acknowledged that an encouraging voter turnout remains a significant challenge. “Restoring confidence in the system and bringing people to the polling centres is a major task ahead,” he said.

While the election schedule will not be announced yet, the CEC indicated that the date will be declared two months in advance.

Preparations are underway to hold the polls within a short timeline, he said.

The Election Commission is working to ensure a credible election through the joint efforts of the Commission, presiding officers and the administration, aiming to restore the public's lost trust in the electoral process, the CEC said.

Commenting on the overall security situation, he said the law-and-order situation is satisfactory. “We want to see it improve even further so that people can come to polling stations and vote peacefully without fear.”

He said the voter apathy has become a serious concern. “People have forgotten to go to polling centres. On the election day, many choose to stay home, believing their votes won’t make a difference or that someone else will cast their vote. This kind of mindset has developed. Overcoming it is a major challenge for us, and we are actively working to change it.”

He emphasised the importance of public awareness and sought the cooperation of journalists in this regard. “Creating awareness is crucial, and journalists have a key role to play. We seek their cooperation and welcome their advice.”

About the challenges posed by misinformation and digital content, the CEC said the misuse of AI has become more dangerous than weapons. “It's a misuse of intelligence and a serious challenge. We don’t see professional journalists as a threat. In fact, we expect them to stand by us and help ensure a transparent election. But there are problems with untrained, unethical individuals who spread misinformation via Facebook and other platforms.”

Some unethical content creators make misleading videos about me and the Chief Adviser. Many people watch these at night without verification and misunderstand the situation.

CEC Nasir Uddin urged everyone not to share such content without checking its authenticity.

He called for the media's support in combating misinformation and reiterated that the Commission is taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of harmful content.

The CEC also said that people, including presiding and administrative officials, who were previously involved in misconduct during the past elections will be kept away from the upcoming polls.

Expressing his firm commitment, he said the Election Commission will remain neutral, working neither for nor against any party, but for the country’s 180 million people.

Highlighting the significance of voting, he added, “Voting is not only a civic responsibility, but also a moral and religious duty.”

The CEC assured that maximum efforts are being made to ensure that the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election is conducted in a transparent, free, and fair manner.

Earlier in the day, the CEC held a coordination meeting with the regional election officers of Rangpur, along with district and upazila ones, at the Regional Election Office, as part of the Commission’s groundwork for the 13th parliamentary election.

Nasir Uddin is currently in Rangpur on a three-day visit to meet with election-related officials, including field administrators and law enforcement agencies, as part of the Election Commission’s preparations for the upcoming national polls.