The much-sought schedule for the 13th parliamentary election and the national referendum will be announced at 6pm on Thursday (December 11, 2025), Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Md Akhtar Ahmed said on Wednesday (December 10, 2025).

“The schedule will be announced at 6pm on Thursday, with Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar airing the Chief Election Commissioner’s national address,” he said while talking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the afternoon.

Earlier, the CEC’s speech to the nation was recorded by Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar on Wednesday afternoon.

The speech will be aired at 6 pm on Thursday, declaring the election schedule.

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Earlier, President Mohammed Shahabuddin expressed satisfaction over the preparations undertaken by the Election Commission (EC).

“The President expressed satisfaction after we informed him in detail,” EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed said while talking to reporters after a meeting between Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, four election commissioners with the President at Bangabhaban.

The Secretary said they informed the President about extending the balloting hours by one hour—now set from 7:30am to 4:30pm.

“When we said that we extended the balloting hour by one hour from 7:30am to 4:30pm, he termed the decision logical and expressed his satisfaction,” he said.

During the meeting, he said, they apprised the President of various preparatory activities, including the updating of electoral rolls and the registration of new political parties.

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The President was also briefed on the Commission’s plan to use two types of ballot papers—one for the national election and another for the referendum—to be held simultaneously on the same day, said Akhtar Ahmed.