Expatriate Voter Enrollment and AI Misinformation Loom as Election Challenges

Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Akhtar Ahmed has said that “expatriate voter registration and artificial intelligence will be major challenges in the upcoming national election.” Similarly, Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Mohammad Sanaullah alleged that “false information is being spread through AI on social media to influence voters.”

They made these remarks on Saturday morning, September 27, at the Election Officer Conference held at the EC Secretariat auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The event was presided over by the Bangladesh Election Commission Officers’ Association and also featured speeches by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin, Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmina Ahmed, and Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Md. Sanaullah, among others.

CEC A.M.M. Nasir Uddin stated that the Commission is “moving forward to hold the election in February while overcoming both visible and invisible challenges.” He assured that “a historic election will be presented to the nation” and added that the Chief Adviser has full confidence in the Commission. “We want to uphold this trust,” he emphasized.

The CEC further stressed, “The Commission will not issue any unlawful directives or act in favor of anyone. Everyone must carry out their duties impartially.”

Election Commissioner Sanaullah highlighted the inclusion of new voters, saying, “Those who will turn 18 by October 31 will also be included in the voter list. The so-called farcical elections of the past were a reason behind the July Uprising. False information is being spread through AI on social media to influence voters. The Commission will not issue any unlawful instructions or favor anyone. Everyone must discharge their duties impartially. That is our commitment. The nation is watching us, and the current Commission has no shortage of willpower in this regard.”

Echoing these concerns, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “The upcoming national election will be more challenging than any previous one. Among these, expatriate voter registration and artificial intelligence will be major challenges. We are working step by step. Nothing will happen overnight. We want to achieve everything through steady effort.”

Monir Hossain, convener of the Election Commission Officers’ Association, suggested that EC officials should be appointed as returning officers. He argued that involving them in enforcing the code of conduct would contribute to a fairer election.

Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker remarked that “many are predicting that 70 percent of votes will be cast in this election.”

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud underscored the EC’s responsibility, saying, “It is the EC’s duty to hold a free and fair election. There is no alternative to conducting a good election. In this battle called election, the officers are the soldiers. Without their effort, victory will not be possible. If political parties maintain a congenial environment, it will make the work of election officials much easier.”