Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has announced that the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum will take place on 12 February. He declared the schedule in a pre-recorded address aired at 6pm on Thursday.
The CEC customarily announces the parliamentary election schedule in an address broadcast on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar. This year, the referendum will be held on the same day as the election, and both schedules have been declared together.
According to the announced timeline, candidates must submit their nomination papers by 29 December, with scrutiny scheduled from 30 December to 4 January.
Appeals against the Returning Officer’s decisions can be filed on 11 January, and the disposal of these appeals will take place between 12 and 18 January.
The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is 20 January, while election symbols will be allotted on 21 January. Campaigning for the election will commence on 22 January and conclude on 10 February at 7:30am.
Voting for all 300 parliamentary seats across the country will take place on 12 February, along with the referendum.
In this “yes” or “no” referendum, voters will decide on the provisions of the July Charter and related amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh.
The schedule provides a clear roadmap for candidates and voters as the nation prepares for the parliamentary polls.
The CEC’s speech for Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar was recorded on Wednesday afternoon at the Election Commission headquarters in the capital’s Agargaon.
Before the recording, he met President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Wednesday noon to finalise the polling date. On that day, the EC clarified that the president had been briefed on preparations for the national election and the referendum.
On Tuesday noon, the CEC paid a courtesy call on Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed at the Supreme Court.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the chief justice, Nasir Uddin said judges would be required in the field to exercise judicial powers similar to those of executive magistrates during the upcoming polls. For that purpose, 300 judges have been requested from the Chief Justice.
“We have sought the cooperation of the judiciary to ensure a fair election,” he said, adding that the chief justice had assured full support.
Around 13 crore voters are expected to take part in the election. The EC has finalised 42,761 polling centres for this large electorate.
As both the national election and the referendum will be held on the same day, polling hours have been extended by one hour. Two secret booths will be placed inside each room to save time.
