The Election Commission (EC) today announced the schedule for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) Election, with voting set to take place on February 12. A simultaneous referendum on the implementation of the National Charter, agreed upon following the July uprising, will also be held on the same day.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin declared the election schedule during a televised address to the nation this evening. Polling will run continuously from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, an extension of one hour from previous election times to manage the dual polls.
Key Dates of the Election Schedule
The key deadlines for the upcoming parliamentary election are as follows:
| Event | Date |
| Last Date for Submission of Nomination Papers | December 29 |
| Scrutiny of Nomination Papers | December 30 – January 4 |
| Appeal against Returning Officer’s Decision | January 11 |
| Disposal of Appeals | January 12 – January 18 |
| Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidacy | January 20 |
| Publication of Final Candidate List & Symbol Allocation | January 21 |
| Start of Election Campaign | January 22 |
| End of Election Campaign | February 10 (7:30 AM) |
| Voting Day | February 12 |
Voting will be held across 300 constituencies nationwide.
Voter Roll and International Participation
The total number of voters in this election exceeds 12.76 crore. For the first time, expatriate Bangladeshi voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots via postal ballot. Over 3 lakh expatriates have already registered to vote.
Context of the Election
The announcement comes 16 months after the Awami League government was overthrown in the student-mass uprising of August 5 last year, leading to the formation of the interim government under the leadership of Professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8.
Initially, parties including the BNP had demanded the election be held by last December. However, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus had previously indicated in a June 6 address that the election would be held in the first half of April 2026. This timeline was later revised following a meeting in London on June 13 between the Chief Adviser and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, where both agreed on the first half of February 2026. Since then, the government had repeatedly affirmed the February timeline, with the EC preparing accordingly.
The complexity of the current polls stems from the decision, announced by the Chief Adviser on November 13, to hold both the parliamentary election and the referendum on the National Charter on the same day.
Participation and Legal Status
Only political parties registered with the EC can participate in the Jatiya Sangsad election with a party symbol. There are currently 56 registered parties. However, the registration of the Awami League remains suspended due to a ban on its political activities, rendering it ineligible to participate. Other registered parties will be eligible, alongside any qualified individuals who wish to run as independent candidates.
The current Election Commission, led by A. M. M. Nasir Uddin, was formed on November 21 last year following the fall of the previous government. This election will be the first under its administration.
Challenges and Security Measures
The EC views the simultaneous holding of the parliamentary election and the referendum as a significant challenge in terms of time management. To address this, the commission has extended polling time by one hour (7:30 AM to 4:30 PM) and plans to increase the number of secret polling booths at centers.
Another major challenge is maintaining law and order. The government has announced that nearly 9 lakh personnel from the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies will be deployed—the highest number in the nation’s history—to ensure a secure electoral environment. A record 1.5 lakh police personnel have already been provided with specialized election training.
