Dhaka – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday announced that the next parliamentary election would be held on February 12 (Thursday) next year. The referendum on July Charter, a state reform plan drafted in the aftermath of the last year’s uprising that ousted the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, will also take place on the same day, according to the CEC.
The announcement came in a televised address , in which the CEC outlined the details of the election schedule.
According to the schedule, voting in 300 parliamentary constituencies will be held on February 12 from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm. The nomination papers for the parliamentary election may be submitted until December 29.
Scrutiny of nomination papers will be from December 30 to January 4. Appeals against the Returning Officer’s decision can be filed by January 11, and appeals will be disposed of from January 12 to 18.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.
The final candidate list will be published, and electoral symbols will be allocated on January 21. Election campaigning will begin on January 22 and end at 7:30 am on February 10.
More than 120 million voters are eligible for casting their vote in the election, according to the election commission.
For referendum, the reforms charter proposes wide-ranging changes in the constitution, including introduction of a bi-cameral parliament, curbing executive’s power, preventing abuse of power at the administrative levels, and independence of judiciary and other democratic institutions.
The CEC called upon all eligible voters to turn up to the voting centers without fear and cast vote to help build a truly democratic nation. He referred to past elections that lacked democratic norms and eventually resulted in the last year’s uprising against undemocratic rule.
He also urged the political parties and potential candidates to abide by the election code of conduct to ensure festive conduct of the elections.
This will be the country’s 13th parliamentary election.
Bangladesh’s 12th parliamentary election was held on January 7, 2024 with Hasina’s Awami League party securing victory amid a boycott by major political parties over allegations of vote rigging. Two other elections, overseen by Hasina administration in 2018 and 2014, were also marred by alleged rigging and violence.
Nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel drawn from the armed forces, paramilitary groups and police forces will be deployed across the nation to maintain order during the election, according to the election commission.
