“This environment has not arisen suddenly – it is the result of a collective sense of responsibility,” the chief adviser said.
“Therefore, I thank all political parties, candidates, voters, the Election Commission, civil society representatives, media professionals and law-enforcement agencies and members of the administration. With your combined efforts, we reached the threshold of conducting elections in the expected environment,” he said.
Also, the Chief Advisor expressed deep sorrow over several violent incidents since the announcement of the election schedule, in which some valuable lives were lost.
He said, “Such violence has shocked the national conscience. Loss of any life in the exercise of democracy is unacceptable for any civilized state.”
Referring to the scale of participation, Professor Yunus said that 51 political parties are contesting the elections, the highest number in the country’s history, adding that more than 2,000 candidates, including independent candidates, are participating in the elections, figures rarely seen in previous national elections.
He said, “This election is not just another routine election but the first national election since the people’s uprising. This election is a constitutional expression of the awakening of the people that we have seen against the long-standing anger, discrimination, deprivation and injustice.”