13th Parliamentary Elections, referendum set to be held on February 12

The 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum on implementing the July National Charter will held on February 12.

In an address to the nation at 6pm on Thursday Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced the election schedule.

According to the announced schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers for the parliamentary elections is December 29. Selection of nomination papers will be done from December 30 to January 4. Appeals against the decision of the Returning Officer will be filed on January 11 and the appeal will be disposed of from January 12 to 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20. Symbols will be allotted on January 21.

Election campaigning will start on January 22 and end on February 10 at 7:30am. Voting will be held in 300 parliamentary constituencies across the country on February 12.

The total number of voters in this election is more than 127.6 million. Overseas Bangladeshi voters are also getting the opportunity to vote through postal ballots. So far, more than 300,000 overseas voters have registered to vote.

Before announcing the schedule, the CEC and Election Commissioners met the President, Chief Adviser and the Chief Justice.

The EC had earlier said that the parliamentary elections and the referendum will be held on the same day. Voting will continue from 7:30am to 4:30pm.

The interim government that took office after the ouster of the Awami League government has given the EC the green light to hold elections.

Another election is going to be held two years after the 12th parliamentary elections on January 7, 2024 which is the first election under the newly formed EC.