Staff Reporter:
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin yesterday said that the Election Commission (EC) is preparing to hold the 13th National Parliamentary Election in the first half of February 2026.
While briefing journalists at his office in Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon, the CEC said, “The Chief Ad-viser has already announced that he will send us a letter to conduct the election before Ramadan. Once the letter is received, the Commission will discuss and announce the election schedule two months prior to the polling date.”
He mentioned that the Chief Adviser wants to see a festive atmosphere during the elections, like the joy-ous spirit of Eid day, and the EC is working with that vision in mind.
He added, “Despite various challenges, the Commission is preparing in line with the Chief Adviser’s announcement, and all election-related preparations will be completed by September.”
Among these preparations, the updating of the voter list is nearly complete and will be finalized by Au-gust 31, while procurement of election materials will be finished by September 22, and the draft for re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies has been published, and objections will be accepted until 10 August. Final boundaries will be announced after hearings.
Regarding party registration, the CEC said that scrutiny is ongoing for political parties that have met the eligibility criteria. After review, public opinions and objections will be invited through newspaper ad-vertisement within 15 days. A final decision will follow necessary hearings, he added.
He also revealed that there are plans to allow 800,000 to 1,000,000 voters to cast their votes by post (postal ballots).
Emphasizing transparency and participation, the CEC promised equal opportunities for all political par-ties to ensure a level playing field, saying, “We aim to conduct elections as transparent as a mirror. The role of the media is extremely important in this regard.”
About the law and order, he expressed optimism that conditions will improve ahead of the polls.
Addressing EC officials, the CEC stressed the need for professionalism and impartiality in conducting elections, adding that “No bias or favoritism should be shown.”
He said that the Deputy Commissioners have also been instructed to uphold administrative responsibili-ties and ensure fair competition.
Describing voter confidence as a major challenge, the CEC remarked, “People have lost faith in the elec-tion process. Restoring that trust and bringing voters back to the polling centers are among our top prior-ities. All measures will be taken to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.”
