51 of 59 registered parties to contest, campaigning begins at midnight

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday (January 21) said 51 of the 59 registered political parties will participate in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, with campaigning set to begin at midnight and continue until 7:30am on February 10.

The information was shared at a high-level law and order meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Chief Adviser’s Office.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said observers from 26 countries have been invited, including a 300-member European Union team, with 56 EU representatives already in Bangladesh.

He warned that misinformation, particularly online, remains a major challenge, noting that party ballots, referendum ballots and postal votes will be counted together, which may delay results.

Adviser for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said all ministries are working to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply on election day. Special Assistant Foyez Ahmed Taiyeb, responsible for the Post, Telecommunication, and IT Ministry, confirmed continuous mobile and internet services across all polling centers.

Army Chief Wakar-uz-Zaman reported that during the August 2024 national uprising, 3,619 arms were looted from various police stations, of which 2,259 (62.4%) have been recovered. Of 456,418 rounds of ammunition, 237,100 rounds (≈52%) have been retrieved. He confirmed coordinated deployment of forces to ensure a peaceful election.

Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud said armed Ansar members will be stationed inside polling centers under presiding officers’ supervision to prevent illegal activities.

Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury noted that armed forces personnel will act as law enforcement and can enter polling premises if necessary. Home Secretary Nasimul Ghani added that body cameras will reach local units within five days, all personnel will be deployed four days before voting, and will remain seven days post-election. Field monitoring teams under joint secretaries will work 24/7, using drones as needed.

During the meeting, a video demonstration of body camera usage was presented. Dr. Yunus emphasised that proper deployment of body cameras could significantly enhance election security and transparency, and additional meetings may be scheduled weekly or more frequently if required.

The meeting was attended by top officials from Home, Defense, and National Security Ministries, three armed services, the Election Commission, Police, RAB, BGB, Ansar, Coast Guard, and various intelligence agencies.