The Election Commission (EC) has taken an initiative to develop a “Digital Accreditation and Card Issuance Software” to make the work of journalists covering national and local government elections easier, more transparent and more efficient.
A nine-member expert committee has been formed to finalize the necessary Software Requirements Specification (SRS) for the system.
The committee was formed following a meeting at Agargaon Nirbachan Bhaban here today.
Representatives from Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Press Information Department (PID), Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Betar, IFES, and the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) attended the meeting.
EC’s Additional Secretary Md. Shamsul Alam was made as convener of the committee and Director (Public Relations) Md Abdul Momin Sarker member secretary.
After the meeting, EC’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the initiative had been taken with all relevant stakeholders to address the technical limitations experienced in the online and digital accreditation system during the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12.
Regarding the online card distribution system, Ahmed said, “We want to create a centralized digital platform extending from the central level to the upazila level. Our objective is not to exclude or control anyone. Rather, we want to make the card issuance process easier and more transparent so that professional journalists do not face any difficulties when obtaining their cards.”
He said the committee formed for this purpose would submit its report by September 24.
Based on a review of the report, the commission will give final approval and then conduct the card distribution process through the new software.
BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Muhammed Kader Gani Chowdhury said the EC as an independent and constitutional institution, plays a crucial role in strengthening the country’s democratic system and safeguarding people’s right to vote.
He said the credibility of a democratic and fair election depends entirely on independent journalism.
To enable journalists to present the truth freely, the EC must ensure an environment in which they can work without restrictions, he added.
Chowdhury said in the past, many political activists and unprofessional individuals had obtained cards by falsely identifying themselves as journalists and had created various forms of disorder, including attempts to take control of polling centers.
As a result, genuine professional journalists were harassed and obstructed, he said.
“We welcome this initiative to issue cards and vehicle stickers digitally so that such incidents do not take place this time,” he said.
He also called for cards to be issued only after proper verification of genuine journalists from registered and mainstream media outlets in order to prevent such fraud.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed chaired the meeting while Principal Information Officer (PIO) Syed Abdal Ahmed, Bangladesh Television (BTV) Director General Kazi Jesin, RFED President Kazi Emad Uddin Jebel, General Secretary Ikram-ud-Daula, and senior officials from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the EC also attended it.
