Dhaka, Mar 02 (V7N) - Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed on Sunday proposed conducting voting in open fields instead of closed rooms in schools and colleges to enhance transparency in the election process. Speaking at a discussion at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on National Voter Day 2025, she questioned the transparency of elections held in confined rooms and suggested that balloting take place in open fields within school boundaries. She acknowledged that the idea might seem unconventional but emphasized the importance of reforms in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

Tahmida Ahmed explained that a boundary rope system, similar to those used in banks, could be implemented to maintain order during voting. She argued that if people follow such guidelines in everyday situations, they could do the same during elections. "This is the kind of reform I want to bring," she stated, stressing the need to move beyond traditional election methods and adapt to a more transparent system.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah provided an update on the ongoing voter registration program, revealing that data from 5.33 million new voters had been collected since January 20, 2025, while 1.9 million deceased voters were removed from the list. He also highlighted the need to reconsider door-to-door voter registration in an increasingly digitized world, suggesting that online and designated place-based registrations could reduce errors and costs.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, along with Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, also spoke at the discussion, which was presided over by EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

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