Reassuring stakeholders about the integrity of the upcoming polls, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday said the Election Commission is prepared to ensure a free and fair election, citing an improved and supportive electoral environment.

“The election environment is good. We believe we will be able to conduct a free and fair election,” the CEC told reporters after inspecting 10 booths installed on the premises of the Election Commission in the city's Agargaon area.

The booths have been set up to receive appeals from aggrieved aspirants against the decisions of returning officers.

A five-day scrutiny process of the nomination papers ended on Sunday ahead of the 13th parliamentary election scheduled to be held on February 12 next.

During the scrutiny, the returning officers declared a total of 1842 nomination papers valid, while rejected 723 other nomination papers in the country's 300 constituencies.

Now the aggrieved aspirants can file appeal petitions with the Election Commission from Monday to January 9, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers. 

The Commission will hear and dispose of the petitions from January 10 to 18.

Law and order to improve ahead of election, hopes CEC Nasir

The Election Commission on December 12 last declared the schedule to arrange the 13th national election and the referendum on July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.

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).