Election Results Due by Friday: EC

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has categorically ruled out any prolonged delay in announcing the results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the simultaneous referendum, affirming that the nationwide final outcome will be declared by Friday, the day after polling concludes. Senior election officials have dismissed circulating speculation that tabulation could take three days or longer, describing such claims as unfounded and misleading.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday at the Election Commission Secretariat in Dhaka, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker said the commission was fully prepared to release results swiftly once voting ends on Thursday. He noted that earlier concerns about logistical complexity arising from holding a parliamentary election and a referendum on the same day had largely been addressed through close coordination among civil administration officials and law enforcement agencies.

According to the commissioner, the overall electoral environment has been noticeably calmer and more orderly than in several previous polls. He argued that this improved atmosphere strengthens the prospects for a credible, participatory, and widely accepted election. “Our preparations are complete, and there is no reason for unnecessary delay,” he said, adding that transparency and efficiency remain the commission’s guiding principles.

Responding to questions about whether concurrent vote counting for two ballots might slow down result compilation, the EC stressed that extensive use of modern technology has significantly reduced that risk. Digital result transmission systems, multiple layers of backup devices, and decentralised data aggregation mechanisms will enable polling centres to send verified results rapidly to the central results management hub. While officials acknowledged that a small number of remote or hard-to-reach areas may require slightly more time to transmit data, they emphasised that this would not impede the timely declaration of national results.

Security has been identified as another cornerstone of the commission’s strategy. A multi-tiered security plan has been implemented to maintain law and order during voting and in the immediate post-election period. Approximately 1.1 to 1.2 million members drawn from the police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar, and the armed forces will be deployed nationwide. The entire electoral process will be conducted under the leadership of returning officers, with direct oversight from the Election Commission.

To further enhance transparency and oversight, multiple monitoring teams will operate in each parliamentary constituency. Field-level updates will be transmitted to a central monitoring cell every two hours. Polling centres with reliable electricity supply are being equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, while security personnel have been instructed to use body-worn cameras to strengthen accountability and deter malpractice.

In parallel, the commission has activated a dedicated fact-checking cell to counter rumours and disinformation, particularly on social media. Officials said misleading or false claims would be promptly verified and addressed through appropriate measures.

The EC maintains that the combination of timely result publication, robust security, and technology-driven management will ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process.

Key Election Information