Staff Correspondent :
Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar has announced that the schedule for the upcoming national election will be released within the second week of this month, with the polls expected to be held in the second week of February, ahead of Ramadan. Speaking to journalists on Monday (1 December) after a daylong workshop in Narayanganj’s Bandar, he said the government has already requested the Election Commission (EC) to conduct both the national election and a referendum. “The EC has completed all legal and
administrative preparations, and all election materials have been procured,” he said.
The commissioner issued a strict warning against violations of the electoral code of conduct, saying candidacy will be cancelled outright if any candidate breaks the rules. He added that posters will not be allowed for campaigning, and all candidates will be provided a level playing field.
Sarkar also stated that concealing information in affidavits could lead to the cancellation of an elected candidate’s position, even after the results.He noted that presiding officers will hold full authority at polling centres. If any disruption occurs before the announcement of results, a presiding officer may suspend voting, while returning officers will have the power to cancel the election in an entire constituency. He further said returning officers and police personnel have been given expanded powers, while the army will be deployed with magisterial authority. “There is no scope for doubt this election will be free, fair, and neutral,” he added. The workshop was attended by Election Training Institute Director General Muhammad Hasanuzzaman; Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Raihan Kabir; Superintendent of Police Mohammad
Mizanur Rahman Munshi; EC Secretariat Deputy Secretary and Project Director Muhammad Mostafa Hasan; and District Election Officer Alamgir Hossain. The event was chaired by Dhaka Regional Election Officer Md. Yunus Ali and participated in by officials involved in
election management.
