EC appoints returning officers for 300 constituencies ahead of national polls

The Election Commission (EC) has appointed returning officers for all 300 parliamentary constituencies following the announcement of the 13th National Election schedule.

The development was confirmed through a gazette notification issued on Thursday night (December 11).

Earlier, on Thursday evening, the EC announced the election schedule, setting 12 February as polling day.

According to the notification, divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Chattogram, regional election officers of the Dhaka–Chattogram–Khulna regions, and deputy commissioners of all 64 districts have been designated as returning officers for their respective constituencies.

Except for a few constituencies in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas and one in Khulna city, deputy commissioners will serve as returning officers nationwide.

In Dhaka city, the divisional commissioner will act as returning officer for all constituencies except Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15, where the Dhaka regional election officer will serve. In the rest of Dhaka district, deputy commissioners will carry out the role.

In Chattogram city, the divisional commissioner will oversee constituencies 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10, while the Chattogram regional election officer will be in charge of Chattogram-11. The district’s deputy commissioner will serve as returning officer in the remaining constituencies.

For Khulna-3, the regional election officer of Khulna has been appointed as returning officer.

The EC also released a revised gazette on the same day, redefining constituency boundaries for four seats in Bagerhat and five in Gazipur in compliance with court directives.