Briefing the reporters at Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury expressed hope that the data entry and the election processes will be completed soon.
Briefing the reporters at Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury expressed hope that the data entry and the election processes will be completed soon.
"As a friend of this country, we believe in enhancing the country's democracy...Everybody wants the return of a better democracy as soon as possible," he said.
The high commissioner termed the ongoing work for preparing the voter roll "a great job" and lauded the roles of the EC, army and the local people. He asked the authorities to be careful about security of the data being collected and the transparency in the system.
Anwar said that EC and army officials briefed him about the work they are doing and he is highly impressed.
"We are simply taken aback watching the levels of organisation, the kind of checking and the young people doing the data entry and the young students helping...,"he added.
The high commissioner said that they have asked the people involved with the task to make sure that everybody is registered, specially the minority people and the disabled people from all wards in the city corporation.
"We hope that the voter registration project, if it is completed successfully, will be unique in Asia," Anwar said.
He also said that DFID has just handed over $20 million to the Election Commission for the voter roll registration project. "Other donors will be giving more as the time goes on," he added.
Chris Austin, head of DFID in Bangladesh, said that the new voter list will create confidence among people. The British government is delighted to help in the project, he added.
Rajshahi voter listing task coordinator Lt Col Taher, deputy commissioner Khalilur Rahman and election officer Sayed Muhammad Musa were present at the briefing.