Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said on Sunday that the government will continue to extend all kinds of support to the Election Commission (EC) for the sake of a free and fair election.

“In this much-awaited election for the nation, you [the EC] are in the driver’s seat, and we must reach the desired goal,” he said during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and four other commissioners at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka this evening.

Expressing satisfaction with the Commission’s preparations, the chief adviser said the interim government is committed to holding a free and fair election in the country. “In the first half of February, we are moving forward with the determination to deliver the best election in the nation’s history,” he added.

At the meeting, four election commissioners – Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmad, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, and Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed were present.

Besides, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser M Siraz Uddin Miah attended the meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission held its tenth meeting of the year to finalise the schedule for the 13th parliamentary polls.

Following the meeting, the Commission led by the CEC paid a courtesy call on the chief adviser and briefed him on preparations for the upcoming election and referendum.

Nasir Uddin informed Prof Yunus that the Commission is fully prepared to hold the national election and the referendum on the same day in the first half of February.

The CEC and other election commissioners thanked the chief adviser for providing full support to the EC during its preparations.