Bangladesh Announces Schedule for 13th National Election and Referendum
Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has officially announced the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election along with a national referendum to be held on the same day. The announcement was made Thursday (Dec 11) at 6 PM , when Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin addressed the nation, confirming that voting will
take place on 12 February 2026 . CEC Nasir Uddin: “Election Commission is fully prepared for a fair and peaceful election” In his televised address, CEC A M M Nasir Uddin said the Commission is fully committed to ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful election. He stated: “To uphold democratic continuity, the Election Commission is fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, and peaceful national election.” He also confirmed that the National Election and the Referendum on the July National Charter will be held simultaneously . Key Dates for the 13th National Election Nomination & Verification Last date for submitting nomination papers: 29 December 2025 Scrutiny of nomination papers: 30 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 Appeals against Returning Officers’ decisions: 11 January 2026 Appeal disposal: 12–18 January 2026 Finalization of Candidates Deadline for withdrawing candidacy: 20 January 2026 Publication of final candidate list & symbol allocation: 21 January 2026 Campaign Period Campaign begins: 22 January 2026 Campaign ends: 10 February 2026 at 7:30 AM Election Day Voting across all 300 constituencies: 12 February 2026 Political Activities Intensify Nationwide Following the announcement, political parties have accelerated their internal processes, with many finalizing candidate lists and strategizing campaigns. Grassroots discussions have also intensified as supporters analyze potential candidates. Political analysts note that this year’s election will be “highly significant and intensely competitive.” Enhanced Security Measures Nationwide In his statement, CEC Nasir Uddin emphasized strict security arrangements throughout the election period. He asserted: “A coordinated security plan will be implemented nationwide to maintain law and order. No form of unrest will be tolerated.” Security forces have already begun: Special patrols Intelligence monitoring Identifying vulnerable polling centers Conclusion With the election schedule officially released, Bangladesh enters a crucial phase of political activity. The next several weeks will see intense campaigning, strategic maneuvering, and heightened security preparations ahead of the February 12 national vote and referendum .
