Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah has announced that a general holiday will be observed nationwide on polling day for the forthcoming 13th national parliamentary election, while confirming that the official election schedule will be declared later this week. The announcement signals that preparations for the highly anticipated vote have entered their final and most critical phase.
The commissioner shared the update following a review meeting that focused on the election timetable, referendum-related issues and a wide range of administrative matters covering both the pre-election and post-election periods. According to officials present at the meeting, the discussions centred on ensuring a smooth rollout of the schedule and strengthening mechanisms to enforce electoral rules once the process formally begins.
As decided in the meeting, the Election Commission will send a formal letter to Bangladesh Television on Monday, requesting arrangements for the recording and broadcast of the election schedule. On the day the schedule is announced, coordination meetings will also be held at the field level during the evening to brief local officials and ensure uniform understanding of directives issued by the Commission.
To ensure strict compliance with the electoral code of conduct, the commissioner said that two magistrates will be deployed in every upazila starting from the day the election schedule is announced. Their role will be to monitor political activities, prevent violations of campaign rules and take immediate action where necessary. In addition, further magistrates will be deployed five days before polling day to reinforce oversight as campaigning reaches its peak.
While polling day itself will be declared a general holiday to facilitate voter participation, Sanaullah clarified that essential financial and communication services would continue to operate. Banks and post offices will remain open, in accordance with Election Commission requirements, to avoid disruption to routine economic activities and public services.
The commissioner also emphasised that once the election schedule is announced, the advisory council will no longer approve any new development projects. This restriction is intended to prevent the misuse of state resources and to maintain a level playing field for all political parties and candidates during the campaign period.
Key Decisions Announced by the Election Commission
| Issue | Decision |
|---|---|
| Polling day | General holiday nationwide |
| Banks and post offices | Remain open on polling day |
| Election schedule | To be announced later this week |
| Magistrate deployment | Two per upazila from schedule announcement |
| Additional oversight | More magistrates five days before polling |
| New project approvals | Suspended after schedule announcement |
Election officials believe these measures will help ensure transparency, discipline and fairness throughout the electoral process. The declaration of a public holiday on polling day is expected to encourage higher voter turnout, while the early deployment of magistrates reflects the Commission’s intent to enforce the code of conduct rigorously.
With the formal schedule imminent, political parties, candidates and voters alike are now awaiting the detailed roadmap that will outline nomination deadlines, campaign periods and the date of polling. The coming days are therefore expected to be crucial in shaping the tone and conduct of the 13th national parliamentary election.