Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) is accelerating preparations for the country’s 13th parliamentary elections, aiming to ensure readiness for a possible vote between December 2025 and June 2026.
Following signals from Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus – including a statement during his June 13 meeting in London with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in which he suggested elections could take place just before Ramadan 2026 if reforms proceed – the EC has instructed its staff to expedite all essential work.
“We must be ready, regardless of when the election is held,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin told reporters recently. “We are now focusing on our preparations.”
A comprehensive set of tasks is currently underway, including
updating voter lists, redrawing constituency boundaries, repairing polling stations, acquiring voting materials, registering new political parties and observer organizations, amending election laws, and training election officials.
The EC is also preparing to engage in dialogues with stakeholders and is awaiting input from both the Electoral Reforms Commission and the National Consensus Commission, according to officials.
On Saturday, the CEC reiterated that the date and schedule of the next election will be announced on time. “While we are not in continuous contact with the government, some interaction is taking place. The election schedule will be announced as planned,” he said.
Work on what the CEC described as an “action plan” – a roadmap of tasks with clear deadlines – has been underway since the current commission took office. On June 12, the commission approved the draft of the Political Parties and Candidates Code of Conduct 2025, which bans campaign posters for the upcoming election, introduces eco-friendly campaign guidelines, and sets a maximum fine of Tk 1.5 lakh for violations.
Separately, work on redrawing parliamentary boundaries is expected to be completed within days, according to Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah. The EC received 638 applications requesting boundary adjustments in 76 constituencies. Meanwhile, the voter list update is nearing completion, with a June 30 deadline in place.
Procurement for election materials – from transparent ballot boxes and printed voter lists to ink, seals, and paper – is also advancing. The paper for ballot papers will be sourced from Karnaphuli Paper Mill, with final printing done at a state facility after candidate lists are confirmed. Other items are being acquired through open tenders, which are now in their final evaluation stages. A work order is expected in early July.
Preparations for constructing and renovating polling centers are also moving forward, alongside the development of updated election observer guidelines.
Additionally, the EC’s registration window for new political parties will close on June 22, following an earlier extension. A total of 65 parties have applied thus far.
“Our voter list work is almost complete. The code of conduct has been finalized, and the constituency demarcation work is nearing completion,” said EC Additional Secretary KM Ali Newaz. He added that the evaluation of procurement tenders is close to conclusion and that legal amendments required for the election are also being pursued.
Conducting a national election remains a complex challenge, Newaz acknowledged. “But it is not impossible. We are preparing carefully to ensure a successful election.”
