Following the conclusion of voting in the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the concurrent referendum, questions have arisen among the public regarding the timeline for the release of results. This is the first occasion on which a parliamentary election has been held simultaneously with a referendum, making the vote-counting process comparatively more complex, the Election Commission (EC) has confirmed.
According to EC sources, counting is expected to be completed on Friday morning, after which results will be gradually announced. However, senior election and administrative officials anticipate that the full declaration of results could extend into Friday afternoon. The increased complexity arises from voters casting ballots on two separate papers, in addition to the inclusion of postal votes.
Once counting at individual centres concludes, constituency-based results will be declared from the offices of the respective Returning Officers. Subsequently, the final results will be published from the Result Collection and Transmission Centre established at the Election Commission Secretariat.
Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Government stated, “InshAllah, the results will be released as swiftly as possible immediately following the election. We hope to announce initial outcomes during the first half of 13 February.”
Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed added, “We anticipate that counting will conclude around 10:00 a.m. on Friday. There is no expected delay. Every ballot will be carefully counted. Voting on 12 February began at 7:30 a.m.”
He further explained, “The dual ballot papers and inclusion of postal votes will extend the counting process compared to normal elections. Publishing results for multiple constituencies simultaneously may require additional time from Returning Officers, so the public is requested to remain patient.”
The table below summarises the schedule for vote counting and result publication:
| Date | Time | Activity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 February | 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Voting | Polling completed at all centres |
| 13 February | 10:00 a.m. | Expected completion of counting | Counting at polling centres |
| 13 February | Morning–Afternoon | Constituency-based results | Declared from Returning Officers’ offices |
| 13 February | Afternoon | Final results | Announced from Election Commission Secretariat |
The distinguishing feature of this election and referendum lies in the simultaneous counting of two types of ballots along with postal votes, which has extended the timeline for result publication. The Election Commission has assured the public that once all processes are complete, citizens will have access to timely and accurate results.