Bangladesh is poised for a landmark event on 12 February as the nation prepares to hold the election and referendum for a new charter simultaneously.
This unprecedented dual vote marks a significant moment in the country’s history, with the Election Commission (EC) finalising all arrangements to ensure a festive and smooth environment for voters to exercise their democratic rights.
Navigating digital and offline voting guides
Polling will commence at 7:30am and continue without interruption until 4:30pm. To prevent confusion and save time at the stations, the Election Commission has advised all citizens to confirm their specific polling centre and voter list serial number before heading out.
Digital tools have been prioritised to make this information accessible, including the ‘Smart Election Management BD’ mobile application where voters can enter their NID and date of birth.
Additionally, a dedicated hotline at 105 is available for direct assistance, and an SMS service allows voters to retrieve their details by texting their NID number to the same number.
For those without digital access, information remains available at local election offices or on lists displayed at the polling centres themselves.
Procedure for pink and black-and-white ballots
The election will be conducted using traditional paper ballots and transparent boxes. Upon entering the station, a polling officer will verify the voter’s identity against the list and apply indelible ink to a finger.
Each voter will receive two separate ballots – a black-and-white one featuring the symbols of parliamentary candidates and a pink one for the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ referendum.
It is essential for voters to check that both ballots bear the official seal and the presiding officer’s signature on the reverse side.
After marking their choices with a rubber stamp in the secret booth, voters must fold the ballots vertically to ensure the wet ink does not smudge onto other symbols.
Both ballots are then to be deposited into the same transparent ballot box before the voter exits the centre.
Massive security for a massive electorate
The scale of this election is reflected in the statistics, with 12,77,11,793 voters eligible to cast their ballots across 42,779 centres. This includes 6.48 crore men, 6.28 crore women, and 1,232 third-gender voters.
A total of 2,029 candidates, including 273 independents from 50 political parties, are contesting 299 constituencies.
To safeguard the process, a security force of over 900,000 personnel – comprising the Armed Forces, BGB, RAB, Police, and Ansar – has been deployed nationwide. High-risk centres will be under additional surveillance via CCTV cameras to ensure a peaceful environment.
Strict measures against electoral irregularities
The Election Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding any activities that could compromise the integrity of the vote.
Voting may be immediately suspended or cancelled in instances of violence, such as booth capturing, explosions, or ballot snatching. Results may be declared void if there is evidence of organised fraud, intimidation of voters, or negligence and partiality by polling officials.
Technical errors, such as misprinted ballots or faulty equipment, also serve as grounds for halting the process.
The commission has urged the public to ignore provocations and arrive at their centres early to exercise their constitutional rights.
