He made these remarks during a high-level coordination meeting ahead of the national elections, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday (October 29). Later, his Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, briefed reporters about the discussions.
According to the press briefing, Professor Yunus said, “Many forces will work from within and outside the country to sabotage the election. These are not small but big forces. There may be sudden attacks — this election will be challenging. However, no matter how many storms come, we must overcome them.”
He emphasized that both domestic and international actors could be involved in organized attempts to create unrest or undermine public confidence in the election process.
The Chief Advisor cautioned that social media platforms may become a major tool for election-related propaganda.
“Propaganda will emerge on social media — both from home and abroad — in a very organized manner to thwart the polls. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be used to create fake pictures and videos,” he said.
He stressed the importance of swift countermeasures, saying that any piece of misinformation or fabricated content must be blocked immediately before it spreads.
Professor Yunus highlighted that public participation and awareness are essential to ensure a peaceful, festive, and credible election.
“To make the upcoming elections beautiful and inclusive, we must reach out to the people. They should be made aware of election policies, polling station rules, how to cast their votes, and what to do if any chaos occurs,” he said.
To strengthen voter education, the Chief Advisor instructed the Election Commission and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to produce and circulate more TV commercials, documentaries, and videos explaining electoral procedures.
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the Chief Advisor has directed that these materials be uploaded on YouTube and social media platforms promptly, so that citizens can easily access and learn from them.
“The purpose is to help people prepare themselves in various areas related to the election process,” Alam added.
Concluding his remarks, Professor Yunus reiterated the government’s determination to hold a free, fair, and festive national election, despite the challenges ahead.
He said, “The election may face storms, but we must stay firm and united. Our responsibility is to ensure that democracy moves forward — not backward.”
