NN ONLINE:
The Election Commission (EC) has announced that it has completed all necessary preparations to conduct the 13th national parliamentary elections in the first half of February next year.
In an exclusive interview with the national news agency BSS, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud confirmed, “There is no obstacle to holding the elections. Our preparations are one hundred percent complete. We are fully ready if the polls are held in the first or second week of February.”
Masud noted that the imported indelible ink, a vital component of the election process, has already arrived in the country. He added that “most of the essential tasks have been finalized.”
Addressing the current law and order situation, Masud emphasized that “a peaceful and stable environment is essential not only for the elections but also for the nation’s overall progress and stability.” With political parties already declaring their candidates, he said the electoral atmosphere is gradually taking shape. The EC expects further improvement once campaigning officially begins.
Terming the upcoming general election as “extremely significant,” Masud stressed that “without an elected government and the continuity of democracy, there can be no stability or sustainable development.” He reaffirmed the EC’s commitment to ensuring the elections are free, fair, and participatory, underscoring that restoring public confidence remains a key priority.
> “We have no alternative but to conduct a credible election. To rebuild public trust and serve the national interest, we must deliver a transparent and acceptable poll. Our goal is to make this election a festival of democracy,” he stated.
An official from the EC Secretariat informed BSS that all basic preparations, including the procurement of materials, legal amendments, and updating of the voter list, will be completed by November. The election schedule is expected to be announced in early December.
According to the latest EC data, 12,76,12,384 voters are registered across the country — 6,47,60,382 male, 6,28,50,772 female, and 1,230 third-gender voters. Between September 1 and October 31, the voter roll increased by 13,04,880. The final voter list will be published on November 18, with objections and corrections accepted until November 17, said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
In preparation for the polls, the government issued the “Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025” on November 3, incorporating several major reforms.
Key Amendments Include:
Fugitive convicts declared by court are barred from contesting elections.
The definition of law enforcement now includes all branches of the armed forces.
“No Vote” reintroduced in single-candidate constituencies.
Re-election instead of lottery in case of a tie.
Mandatory party symbol voting for alliance candidates.
Security deposit raised to Tk 50,000.
Maximum penalty for code of conduct violations: Tk 1.5 lakh fine or six months’ imprisonment.
EC empowered to cancel polling in any constituency if irregularities are proven.
IT-enabled postal voting introduced.
AI-related electoral misconduct to be treated as a criminal offence.
EC authorized to take post-election action for false affidavits.
The EC has also registered three new political parties — National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Jonogon Party (BAJP) — ahead of the elections. Their allocated symbols are “Shapla Koli” (Water Lily) for NCP, “Kanchi” (Scissors) for the Socialist Party, and “Handshake” for BAJP. Claims and objections regarding registration will be accepted until November 12.
The commission has finalized 42,761 polling centres across 300 constituencies in 64 districts, comprising 1,15,137 booths for male voters and 1,29,602 booths for female voters, totalling 2,44,649 booths.
For the first time, expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to vote through postal ballots. To facilitate this, the EC will launch the “Postal Vote BD Registration App” on November 16, allowing overseas voters to register digitally. The registration deadline will be announced during the app’s inauguration.
EC sources also confirmed that dialogues with political parties are expected to begin next week. The commission will urge all parties to cooperate in ensuring a fair and peaceful election process.
“We want the 13th national election to become a true celebration of democracy,” said Commissioner Masud.
“Our primary objective is to ensure that every citizen can cast their vote freely for the candidate of their choice.”
