The window for withdrawing candidacies in the 13th National Parliamentary Election has now officially closed. Today, the Election Commission (EC) is set to allocate symbols to all confirmed candidates. Once the symbols are distributed, candidates will be permitted to commence formal election campaigning from tomorrow, Thursday, 22 January.

According to the Election Commission’s official circular, the procedure for symbol allocation is clearly outlined: “Following the final date for withdrawal of candidacy, the list of competing candidates shall be published along with their allocated symbols on 21 January.” This ensures transparency and clarity for both candidates and voters alike.

The EC’s roadmap also details the voting process. Polling for the 13th National Parliamentary Election is scheduled to take place on 12 February, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm without interruption. In addition to the parliamentary election, a national referendum will be conducted simultaneously, albeit on a separate ballot paper.

To date, over 2,000 candidates have been confirmed on the valid candidate lists. The election will be conducted using transparent ballot papers, allowing the country’s approximately 127.7 million registered voters to exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner.

The final candidate list will be arranged alphabetically in Bengali script, as stipulated in the EC’s directive. This measure aims to simplify the voting process and ensure voters can easily identify their preferred candidates.

A summary of key election dates and facts is provided below for clarity:

With campaigning about to begin, all eyes are now on the candidates as they prepare to engage voters across the country. Election authorities are emphasising strict adherence to rules to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible electoral process.