Poll schedule announcement likely Wednesday evening or Thursday

Almost everything regarding the election announcement speech has been finalised, according to the election commission sources. EC official Rahmanel Masud informed the media that the schedule for the thirteenth parliamentary election might be announced on Wednesday evening or on December 11.

Speaking to the media today, Tuesday, he said that after meeting the president tomorrow, Wednesday evening or on December 11, Thursday, the commission will announce the schedule for the thirteenth parliamentary election.

He said special emphasis will be placed on cooperation from political parties and all stakeholders during the announcement.

As part of preparations, the Election Commission has already requested Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar to record the speech of the chief election commissioner. The speech of CEC AMM Nasir Uddin regarding the announcement of the schedule for the thirteenth national election and referendum will be recorded at around 4pm tomorrow, Wednesday.

Before that, on Wednesday at 12:30pm, the CEC along with other commissioners will meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin and inform him about overall preparations for the polls.

Commission sources further said that the schedule will be announced tomorrow, Wednesday, or on Thursday through a recorded national address by the CEC.

There are precedents of announcing the schedule on the same day that the CEC’s speech is recorded, and the same possibility exists this time as well.

Yesterday at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, responding to questions from reporters, senior secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed said Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar have already been notified. The CEC’s speech will be recorded at the EC building in Agargaon on Wednesday, December 10.

Sources said that both BTV and Betar have been instructed to remain ready to record and broadcast the speech immediately.