The schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the July national referendum will be officially announced today, marking a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s democratic journey. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), A M M Nasir Uddin, is set to address the nation at 6:00 pm, revealing the official timetable for both the general election and the referendum.
Yesterday, Wednesday 10 December, the Election Commission’s senior secretary, Akhtar Ahmed, briefed the media from the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka. He confirmed that the announcement would take place at 6:00 pm on Thursday, 11 December, and emphasized that there are currently no complications regarding constituency boundaries. Consequently, the schedule will be declared for all 300 parliamentary seats.
In keeping with tradition, earlier on Wednesday, the CEC and the full commission met with President Md. Sahabuddin at Bangabhaban. During this meeting, the Election Commission updated the President on the overall preparations for the elections, including field-level readiness, the prevailing political climate, and law and order conditions. President Sahabuddin assured the Commission of his full support to ensure a free, fair, and smooth election process. He also endorsed the decision to extend voting hours by one hour, recognising the practical challenges of managing an unprecedentedly large voter turnout. The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, concluded with the CEC and other commissioners leaving Bangabhaban, after which a detailed briefing was conducted at the Election Commission headquarters.
The political backdrop is particularly significant. On 5 August 2024, mass protests and student-led movements culminated in the fall of the Awami League government. An interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on 8 August 2024. After 16 months of administration, the Election Commission is now set to announce the official schedule for national elections.
According to the latest figures, approximately 127.7 million voters will be eligible to cast their ballots in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The Election Commission has finalised 42,766 polling stations nationwide to accommodate this record number of voters. Given that the general election and the national referendum will be conducted on the same day, the voting period has been extended by one hour. Additionally, to facilitate faster voting, two secret booths have been set up within each polling station, ensuring efficiency and privacy for voters.
The announcement of the election timetable is eagerly anticipated, as it will set in motion the preparations for one of the largest democratic exercises in Bangladesh’s history. Political parties, candidates, and voters alike are now awaiting the official schedule, marking the start of a historic electoral process.