The upcoming 12th parliamentary polls should be free and fair for the sake of the country’s economy and future, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said today.

He also said that it was unfortunate that some countries were exerting pressure on Bangladesh centring the polls scheduled to take place on January 7, 2024.

He while inaugurating a training for electoral enquiry committee at Electoral Training Institute (ETI) said it is unfortunate that some foreign countries are extending their claws on Bangladesh centering the polls.

“Other than a few exceptions, most countries are not truly sovereign. The way the US can command us, we can’t do the same to them,” he said while inaugurating a training programme for the electoral enquiry committee at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in the capital.