The Bangladesh Election Commission has officially announced the schedule for Bangladesh’s first-ever twin polls – the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the July Charter referendum – both set to take place on February 12, 2026.
The country’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), AMM Nasir Uddin, declared the timetable in a pre-recorded televised address aired at 6.00 pm on Thursday, marking the beginning of the formal election process.
According to the schedule, nomination papers must be filed by December 29 this year. Scrutiny will be conducted from December 30 to January 4, while the final date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed for January 20. The final list of candidates, along with the allocation of electoral symbols, will be published on January 21. Campaigning will begin on January 22 and continue until 7:30am on February 10, in line with the electoral code of conduct.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has described the upcoming election as a historic opportunity to build a new and reformed Bangladesh following the mass uprising, stressing the importance of a fair and credible vote. In keeping with tradition, the Election Commission met President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Wednesday, after holding discussions with Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and the chief adviser earlier in the week.
In his address, the CEC urged citizens to vote “without fear,” calling on all political parties, candidates and the public to participate sincerely in ensuring a peaceful and democratic election. Once the schedule takes effect, the electoral code of conduct comes into force. This restricts advisers and senior officials from using government resources for political campaigns, and bars the government from launching new development projects that could influence voters.
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Under the Representation of the People Order, 1972, a gazette notification will now follow, officially appointing returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs), who will oversee all administrative preparations for the polls. Political candidates have been instructed to remove all posters, banners, and billboards from public spaces within 48 hours of the announcement.
The Election Commission has also planned extensive logistical arrangements for the twin polls. Polling will take place from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm – an extended hour – as voters will be casting both parliamentary ballots and referendum votes. A total of 42,761 polling centres and 2,44,739 booths have been finalised to accommodate roughly 12.76 crore registered voters. All voting materials, including ballot papers, will reach polling centres the day before the election.
The EC has completed major preparations, including the finalisation of the voter list, delimitation of 300 constituencies, and approval of two new political parties, with two more applications pending. Training is currently underway for several lakh officials – including presiding, assistant presiding, and polling officers. As in previous elections, deputy commissioners and the divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Chattogram will serve as returning officers, while police will maintain law and order.
Expatriate Bangladeshis will also participate through postal ballots. By Wednesday evening, approximately 2,97,000 expatriates had registered online. Their ballots, which will feature only party and independent symbols, must reach the respective returning officers before the polls close.
With the long-anticipated schedule now announced, the Election Commission has entered the election-conducting phase, moving the country closer to a landmark electoral moment combining both parliamentary and constitutional decision-making on the same day.
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