POLLS SET FOR 12 FEBRUARY

Ending months of speculation and political uncertainty, the Election Commission on Thursday announced that the 13th parliamentary election and a nationwide referendum will be held on 12 February 2026.

The long-anticipated schedule was revealed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin in a nationally televised address, marking what he described as a critical turning point in the country’s democratic journey.

Speaking during a broadcast carried simultaneously by BTV and Bangladesh Betar, the CEC appealed for the active participation of all political parties, candidates and voters.

He urged citizens to play what he called a “historic role” in ensuring the success of both the election and the referendum, the first time such a dual exercise will take place in Bangladesh.

A historic first

The CEC emphasised the unprecedented nature of the exercise. Parliamentary ballots will be printed in black and white, while referendum ballots will be pink to avoid confusion when both processes are conducted side by side.

Voting will run from 7:30am to 4:30pm, an hour longer than previous elections, and the day will be declared a public holiday.

For the first time, registered expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to vote in the referendum through postal ballots, a system that has also been introduced for the parliamentary contest.

Government staff working away from their home constituencies, polling officials and eligible detainees will also be allowed to vote by post.

Officials said preparations to accommodate these changes, including the possibility of expanding polling booths nationwide, are largely complete.

Meanwhile, for the first time, three Election Commission officials have been appointed as returning officers -- one for Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15, one for Chattogram-11, and one for Khulna-3 constituencies. A total of 69 returning officers will be working in the upcoming national polls, including the divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Chattogram and the deputy commissioners of 64 districts.

Key dates and the road to polling day

According to the schedule, nomination papers must be submitted by 29 December. Scrutiny will be conducted from 30 December to 6 January.

Appeals against returning officers’ decisions may be filed until 11 January, and these will be resolved between 12 and 18 January.

The deadline for candidates to withdraw is 20 January, after which the final list of contestants will be published on 21 January with election symbols allocated the same day.

Campaigning will begin on 22 January and continue until 7:30am on 10 February.

A gazette notifying the schedule was expected to be issued by midnight yesterday.

The Commission will then appoint returning and assistant returning officers and form several bodies, including law-and-order committees, judicial inquiry panels and vigilance teams.

Restrictions on unnecessary transfers of government employees will be enforced throughout the election period.

The CEC pays tribute and outlines the stakes

At the outset of his speech, Nasir Uddin extended greetings ahead of Victory Day and paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War as well as those killed during the student uprising of July-August 2024.

He said the coming election was significant for many reasons, describing it as a return to a genuine democratic process after years of struggle.

He said the dual vote offered a rare chance for state institutions to demonstrate their competence and regain public trust.

He also expressed hope that the election would help restore a culture of healthy political competition.

Reforming the previously ineffective postal voting system, he said, was another milestone that would bring millions of expatriates into the electoral fold for the first time.

A year of reforms and voter list overhaul

The CEC said the Commission had undertaken extensive reforms over the past year to ensure a fair and credible election. A major part of this work involved updating the voter list.

More than 4.5 million previously excluded voters were added and over 2.1 million deceased individuals were removed.

Campaigns targeting women significantly reduced the long-standing gender gap in voter registration.

By amending existing laws, the Commission has now set its own cut-off date for voter eligibility, enabling young voters eligible up to 31 October 2025 to participate.

According to the voter list published on 18 November, Bangladesh currently has 127,695,183 registered voters, including 64,814,907 men and 62,807,942 women.

Revisions have also been made to the Representation of the People Order and to the Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates.

These changes were based on recommendations from the Election System Reform Commission as well as consultations with stakeholders.

The CEC thanked the interim government, the Reform Commission, the National Consensus Commission and all others involved in supporting these initiatives.

New enforcement measures ahead of the polls

In a separate development, the Election Commission wrote to the Ministry of Public Administration requesting the deployment of at least two executive magistrates in every upazila or police station area.

The magistrates will operate mobile courts from the day after the schedule announcement until two days after voting, ensuring strict enforcement of the electoral code of conduct.

The EC has also ordered the removal of all campaign materials displayed across the country.

The directive, issued on Wednesday, requires potential candidates to remove posters, banners, billboards, wall writings, arches, lights and other promotional installations within 48 hours of the schedule being announced.

Local government bodies, including city corporations and municipalities, have been instructed to support the clean-up effort.

Officials said about 20 circulars would be issued in the coming days to guide returning officers and other authorities overseeing the elections.

These will cover matters ranging from security arrangements to the immediate removal of unauthorised campaign materials.

Parties prepare for a high-stakes contest

More than fifty registered political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the Nationalist Conservative Party (NCP), are eligible to contest the polls.

The Jatiya Party, though facing no procedural hurdles, has said it will decide later whether to take part, depending on the political climate.

The Awami League, however, will be unable to join the race for the first time in its history due to the suspension of its registration. Although the party boycotted the 1988 and 1996 elections, it has never previously been barred from contesting.

In the days leading up to the schedule announcement, the BNP, NCP and Jamaat held separate meetings with the CEC.

All three supported holding the election on time, but Jamaat and the NCP voiced concerns about law and order and what they described as the lack of a level playing field.

Their statements came amid heightened attention to the deteriorating health of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, whose condition continues to cast a shadow over political developments.

EC orders polling officer panel by 15 December

In a separate development on Thursday, the Election Commission instructed all district election offices to finalise the panel of polling officers for the 13th parliamentary election by 15 December.

An EC letter, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Manir Hossain, states that officials from private banks will not be included in the regular pool. However, if an insufficient number of suitable officers is available, private-bank staff may be appointed following strict verification.

The directive comes days after the BNP submitted a 36-point proposal to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, urging the EC not to appoint staff from institutions it claims are politically aligned, including Islami Bank and Al-Arafah Bank.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said private-bank officers would be used “only if absolutely necessary”, with priority given to government, semi-government, autonomous bodies and state-owned banks.

The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]

Edited by M Munir Hossain