Staff Reporter:
The schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the national referendum will be announced on 11 December, with the polls expected to take place on 8 February.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin will declare the schedule through a televised address to the nation, subject to final approval at the Election Commission’s (EC) meeting on Sunday.
According to EC sources, the commissioners will meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin on 10 December, following long-standing tradition. They are also scheduled to meet Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on 9 December ahead of the announcement.
Preparations are well underway, and the CEC has already drafted his speech, which is expected to highlight the nation’s democratic journey—from the Liberation War to the July 2024 uprising—while calling on citizens and political parties to participate in a peaceful and festive election.
The EC Secretariat has completed all necessary arrangements for the announcement. The CEC’s recorded address is likely to be aired on state-run BTV and Bangladesh Betar on 11 December.
The election is expected to be held on 8 February, with a roughly two-month gap between the schedule announcement and polling day. Officials said additional time is being kept this year due to postal voting procedures. This will also be the first national election in which expatriates will be eligible to vote via postal ballots.
Nomination papers are expected to be submitted on 25 December, with scrutiny scheduled for 26–30 December. Appeals may be filed between 31 December and 4 January, with disposal from 5–10 January. Candidates may withdraw on 11–12 January, and symbols will likely be allocated on 13 January.
Election officials said 127.69 million voters are expected to cast their ballots across 42,766 polling centres and 245,195 booths.
The EC is also considering appointing a limited number of regional election officials as returning officers in some constituencies, following recommendations made during stakeholder consultations.
In his upcoming address, the CEC is expected to emphasise free, fair, neutral and participatory elections, urging all political actors to adhere to the code of conduct and calling upon law enforcement and election officials to discharge their duties with integrity. Voters will be encouraged to come to polling centres with enthusiasm to exercise their democratic rights.
