The Election Commission (EC) has directed the returning officers (ROs) to finalise the panels of polling officers in line with the fixed guidelines by December 18 next for the upcoming national election and the referendum on July Charter, scheduled to be held simultaneously on February 12, 2026.
If there is a shortage of polling officers in any upazila, the Election Commission has given permission to appoint polling officials from neighbouring or nearby upazilas within the same district, in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.
The commission, in a letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain on Monday, issued the directives sent to all 69 returning officers – the Dhaka and Chattogram Divisional Commissioners, the Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna Regional Election Officers and all district’s deputy commissioners.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on December 11 announced the schedule for the 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025.
According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination paper is on December 30-January 4 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).
The last date for submission of appeal against the decisions of the returning officers is January 11 and the appeals would be disposed of on January 12-18. The returning officers will publish the final lists of candidates and allocate electoral symbols on January 21.
The balloting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm without any break on February 12.
Bangladesh Polls: Permission must for social, religious events before electioneering
According to the final voter list published on November 18 last, a total of 12.76 crore (127,695,183 –64,814,907 males, 62,879,042 females and 1,234 third-gender) voters will have the opportunity to vote in more than 42,000 polling stations under the country's 300 constituencies in the 2026 general election and referendum.
The national election along with a referendum is going to be held for the first time in the history of Bangladesh elections.