Election Schedule for 13th Parliamentary Election to be Announced in Early December: EC Sanaullah

The schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be announced in the first half of December, according to Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah.

He shared this information with journalists on Thursday evening after the ninth commission meeting, chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), concluded at the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka. The meeting, which began at 11 a.m., continued until 7 p.m. Sanaullah said, “The election schedule will be announced in the first half of December, with plans to complete the voting process before February.” The meeting discussed key issues related to the upcoming parliamentary election, including the code of conduct for political parties and candidates, amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), voting procedures for expatriate voters, and the use of technology. When asked about the use of drones during the election, Sanaullah clarified, “No one, including the media, will be allowed to use drones during the election. The commission does not see any need for it either.” On the use of CCTV cameras, he said, “No final decision has been made yet, but the commission is interested in using them.” Regarding expatriate Bangladeshi voters, Sanaullah stated, “This time, expatriates will vote via postal ballots. Ballots will be sent to the relevant expatriate voters at least three weeks before the election. The process will be managed through the Bangladesh Post Office, with the Election Commission and the Post Office working jointly.” Earlier in the day, during a meeting of the Advisory Council at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Room, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized that ensuring a fair election is the primary task of the interim government. In a press briefing after the meeting, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, “At the start of the meeting, the Chief Adviser noted that August 5 marked the end of the first chapter. From today, the second chapter has begun, and our main task now is to ensure a fair election.” On Wednesday, the Chief Adviser’s Office sent a letter to the Election Commission, instructing it to complete all preparations for the next national parliamentary election before Ramadan in February 2026. This letter formally conveys the government’s request to organize the election.