Bangladesh Election Commission Fully Prepared for 13th Parliamentary Polls in Early February
The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has announced that all preparations are complete to hold the 13th national parliamentary elections in the first half of February 2026. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud confirmed that logistical, legal, and administrative arrangements — including the import of indelible ink and the finalisation of polling centres — are “100% complete.”
The EC has also finished amending electoral laws under the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, introducing major reforms such as:
- Banning fugitive convicts from contesting elections
- Extending “law enforcement” definition to include the armed forces
- Reintroducing the “No Vote” option
- Mandating re-elections in case of ties
- Launching AI-related offence provisions and IT-supported postal voting
- Granting EC authority to annul results in constituencies where irregularities are proven
There are now 12.76 crore registered voters, including 1,230 third-gender voters. The final voter list will be published on November 18, with claims accepted until November 17.
In a first, Bangladeshi expatriates will be able to vote via postal ballots using a new mobile application — ‘Postal Vote BD Registration App’ — launching on November 16.
Three new political parties — the National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Jonogon Party (BAJP) — have been registered and assigned new electoral symbols.
The EC has finalised 42,761 polling centres and 244,649 booths nationwide. Political dialogues are expected next week to encourage cooperation among parties.
Commissioner Masud stressed that the goal is to ensure a free, fair, and participatory election, restore public confidence, and make the polls “a festival of democracy.”
