(BSS) - Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah (retd) today said that the upcoming 13th Jatiyo Sangsad Election will mark the beginning of defining the democratic trajectory of future Bangladesh.

"We are moving toward an election in a changed context. This election is going to play a very significant role in the history of independent Bangladesh. The outline of what we want our future independent Bangladesh to look like, and what path our democratic journey will take, will begin to take shape in the coming month of February," he said.

The Election Commissioner made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a daylong training programme for journalists titled "Training for Journalists on the 13th National Parliamentary Election" held this morning at the auditorium of the Election Training Institute in the capital`s Agargaon.

He added, "As you know, Bangladesh`s electoral system has suffered severely in the past years. We are now working to repair that damaged electoral system and rebuild it into a more inclusive process."

Sanaullah continued, "But, it must be remembered that this is a coordinated and national initiative. For the sake of our country and our future generations, a free and acceptable election must be held, there is no alternative."

Calling on journalists and media professionals to play a responsible role in disseminating election-related information, he said, "We believe that journalists are an integral and essential part of our work. The transparency and accountability we speak of in conducting a clean election, journalists are one of the major driving forces ensuring that transparency. We hope all of you will benefit from this training."

Election Commission Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed was present as a special guest at the event. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "This training is extremely timely and important because we are required to conduct both the upcoming national election and the national referendum simultaneously."

He added, "You have a significant and positive role in covering the campaigns for both the election and the referendum."

He went on saying, "Political parties will perform their primary responsibilities, but ours is to clearly present their positions before the public. We want a good election, and in this, your role is critically important."

Also present at the event were Muhammad Hasanuzzaman, Director General of the Election Training Institute, Kazi Zebel, President of the Reporters` Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED), RFED General Secretary Golam Rabbani, journalists from various organisations, and officials and employees of the Election Commission.