Dhaka: Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) on Thursday announced that the country's 13th national parliamentary election, along with the July Charter referendum, will be held next year on February 12, local media reported. Details on page 11
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin made the announcement in a pre-recorded address broadcast on state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar on Thursday evening.
The election schedule sets December 29 as the deadline for submitting nomination papers, followed by scrutiny from December 30 to January 4. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is January 26, while the election campaign is set to begin on January 22, leading Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported.
Bangladesh is set to hold the February 2026 election alongside a referendum for the first time in the country's electoral history.
Last month, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government directed the EC to hold a referendum on the same day as the February 2026 elections, the EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed.
"The Cabinet Division sent the letter to the commission, directing it to begin necessary preparations for holding a referendum," Bangladesh's The Business Standard quoted an EC official as saying.
Earlier, the CEC Nasir Uddin said that holding the referendum and election on the same day would be challenging for the EC.
"Preparations for the election are already in full swing, but holding the national polls and a referendum on the same day would be a major challenge. Once the law is enacted, we will know what kind of preparations are required for the referendum. After the law is passed, the commission will fully prepare for it," the CEC stated.
He further said, "Whatever the challenges, the EC will hold the referendum and the national election on the same day. We have no option but to move forward." (IANS)
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