Voters eager to exercise their franchise: Salahuddin

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member and former State Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that people across the country are eager to exercise their right to vote, calling for a fair and inclusive electoral environment to ensure public confidence in the upcoming polls.

Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon after attending the scrutiny of nomination papers for the Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency at the district administration office, Salahuddin Ahmed said maintaining the public’s enthusiasm for voting must be a shared responsibility.

“People are keen to exercise their voting rights, and this must be upheld,” he said. “A level playing field has to be ensured for all contestants in the election. This is a responsibility that must be jointly carried out by the Election Commission, the government, political parties and the people.”

He added that voters would play a central role in the electoral process this time, noting that a free and open environment was essential for meaningful participation.

“As people will be able to cast their votes freely, law enforcement agencies must also remain supportive and act in a facilitating role,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the district administrator and returning officer, Mohammad Abdul Mannan, declared Salahuddin Ahmed’s nomination papers valid. A total of five candidates had submitted nomination papers for the Cox’s Bazar-1 seat.

However, the nominations of two candidates — independent aspirant Saiful Islam and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Sarwar Alam Kutubi — were cancelled following scrutiny.

Alongside Salahuddin Ahmed, the other candidates whose nominations were upheld are Abdullah Al Farukh of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Mohammad Abdul Kader of Gano Odhikar Parishad.

Before attending the nomination scrutiny, Salahuddin Ahmed arrived in Cox’s Bazar by air from Dhaka earlier on Friday. He later visited the grave of Ritaz Hossain, the late son of local journalist Ansar Hossain, the Cox’s Bazar correspondent of the daily Amar Desh, and offered prayers.

According to his press secretary, Safwanul Karim, Salahuddin Ahmed is scheduled to stay overnight in Pekua and is expected to return to Dhaka by air on Saturday evening.

Political analysts say remarks such as these reflect a growing focus among parties on voter participation and electoral credibility as Bangladesh prepares for the next general election.