The Election Commission (EC) today announced the roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, saying that the election schedule will be declared at least 60 days before the polling date.

EC Senior Secretary Md. Akhtar Ahmed unveiled the roadmap at a press briefing held at the Media Centre of the EC headquarters in the capital.

Following the announcement, when journalists asked about the election date and schedule, the EC Senior Secretary said, “We are making efforts to announce the election schedule 60 days prior to the polling date.”

He said, “I don't yet know the exact date of the election. But I can confirm that the schedule will be announced 60 days before election.”

In reply to the journalists’ query about the likely polling date, he added, “We have been told by the office of the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government to make arrangements for the election before the upcoming month of Ramadan.”

“As far as we understand, Ramadan may begin on February 17, 18, or 19. So, you may calculate accordingly, although the exact date of Ramadan will depend on moon sighting.”

The EC’s election roadmap comprised 24 components. According to the roadmap, dialogue with political parties and other stakeholders is scheduled to begin in the last week of September, and it may take one to one and a half months to conclude the talks.

The final voter list for the parliamentary election will be published at the end of November, while the process of political party registration is planned to be completed by the end of September. 

At least three days before the announcement of the schedule, the National Identity Registration Division will send the constituency-wise verified voter list, with or without photo, to the concerned registration officers in the form of CD or PDF link. 

In addition, the voter list will be distributed by printing a specified number of copies. The voter list update process will continue throughout the month of November, where only new information and data will be inserted.

According to the roadmap, work on five laws will be completed by September 30: the Representation of the People Order 1972, the Political Parties and Candidates' Code of Conduct for Parliamentary Elections 2025, the amended Election Conduct Rules, the Election Officers (Special Provisions) Act 1991, and the Election Commission Secretariat Act 2009.

In addition, the constituency demarcation process is to be concluded by September 30.

According to the policy for setting up and managing polling stations, one polling station will be set up for every 3,000 voters on average. In addition, one room will be allocated for every 600 male voters and one room for every 500 female voters. 

The election manual, guidelines and posters, along with related materials, will be printed by September 15. The election training will begin on August 29 and end 45 days before the election.

Stating that the registration of political parties will be completed by September 30 and the gazette will be published, the secretary said that the work of delimiting parliamentary constituencies will also be completed by September 30 and a GIS map will be prepared and published using the final voter number by August 31. 

The registration of domestic observers will be finalized by October 22 and the registration certificate will be issued by November 15. All activities for granting permits to foreign observers and journalists will also be completed by the same date.

A meeting will be held with the Ministry of Information, ICT Ministry, T&T, BTRC and mobile operators by November 15 to disseminate election information. 

A central coordination meeting will be held with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Armed Forces Division, IGP, BGB, RAB, Coast Guard, Ansar-VDP, DGFI, NSI and Special Branch for law and order and polling station security activities.

The first meeting will be held on September 25 and the second meeting will be held 15 days before the announcement of the schedule. 

An inter-ministerial meeting will be held on October 31 to prepare proposals for activities such as overall preparation for the announcement of the schedule, law and order situation, collection of information related to loan defaulters, sending results from polling stations and appointment of executive magistrates.