DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Election Fee (EC) on Thursday introduced that the nation’s thirteenth nationwide parliamentary election, together with the July Constitution referendum, will likely be held subsequent yr on February 12, native media reported. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin made the announcement in a pre-recorded tackle broadcast on state-owned Bangladesh Tv and Bangladesh Betar on Thursday night.
The election schedule units December 29 because the deadline for submitting nomination papers, adopted by scrutiny from December 30 to January 4. The ultimate date for withdrawal of candidature is January 26, whereas the election marketing campaign is ready to start on January 22, main Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported.
Bangladesh is ready to carry the February 2026 election alongside a referendum for the primary time within the nation’s electoral historical past. Final month, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim authorities directed the EC to carry a referendum on the identical day because the February 2026 elections, the EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed.
“The Cupboard Division despatched the letter to the fee, directing it to start obligatory preparations for holding a referendum,” Bangladesh’s The Enterprise Normal quoted an EC official as saying. Earlier, the CEC Nasir Uddin stated that holding the referendum and election on the identical day can be difficult for the EC.
“Preparations for the election are already in full swing, however holding the nationwide polls and a referendum on the identical day can be a significant problem. As soon as the legislation is enacted, we are going to know what sort of preparations are required for the referendum. After the legislation is handed, the fee will absolutely put together for it,” the CEC acknowledged.
He additional stated, “Regardless of the challenges, the EC will maintain the referendum and the nationwide election on the identical day. Now we have no possibility however to maneuver ahead.”
Final week, Bangladesh’s Awami League celebration slammed Yunus, for suspending all actions of the celebration, a transfer it stated successfully blocked practically 40 per cent of the nation’s voters from collaborating within the February 2026 election.
With that single order, the celebration stated, the upcoming ballot ceased to resemble a nationwide election and have become a “rigorously staged train” designed to maintain actual competitors out.
“When Yunus suspended all actions of the Awami League, it wasn’t simply an administrative choice; it was a political blackout unprecedented in Bangladesh’s historical past. With a single govt order, he managed to silence the nation’s largest political drive and successfully shut down the voices of practically 40 per cent of the citizens. No debate. No due course of. No public mandate. Simply uncooked, unchecked energy,” the Awami League acknowledged.