Dhaka, Dec 11 (NationPress) The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh officially declared that the nation’s 13th national parliamentary election, alongside the July Charter referendum, is scheduled for February 12 next year, as reported by local news outlets.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin made the announcement during a pre-recorded speech aired on state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar on Thursday evening.

The electoral timetable outlines December 29 as the final day for submission of nomination papers, with the scrutiny period occurring from December 30 to January 4. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until January 26, while the campaign period is set to commence on January 22, as detailed by renowned Bangladeshi news outlet UNB.

This upcoming election marks a historic moment as Bangladesh prepares to conduct the February 2026 elections and a referendum on the same day for the very first time.

Last month, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus instructed the EC to organize a referendum concurrently with the February 2026 elections, as confirmed by EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

“The Cabinet Division has issued a letter to the commission, mandating the initiation of necessary arrangements for the referendum,” quoted an EC official by Bangladesh’s The Business Standard.

Previously, CEC Nasir Uddin expressed that conducting both the referendum and national elections on the same day poses significant challenges for the EC.

"Preparations for the election are already in full swing, but managing both the national polls and a referendum simultaneously will be a daunting task. Only after the law is enacted will we understand the preparations needed for the referendum. Once the law is passed, the commission will be fully equipped for it,” stated the CEC.

He added, “Regardless of the challenges, the EC is committed to holding both the referendum and the national election simultaneously. We must persevere.”

In a recent development, the Awami League party of Bangladesh criticized Yunus for halting all party activities, a decision that they claim effectively disenfranchises nearly 40% of the electorate from participating in the February 2026 elections.

The party asserted that this directive transformed the forthcoming election from a genuine national election into a “carefully orchestrated event” designed to eliminate real competition.

“Yunus’s suspension of all Awami League activities was not merely an administrative move; it represents an unprecedented political blackout in Bangladesh’s history. With one executive order, he silenced the largest political force in the country and stifled the voices of approximately 40% of the voters. There was no debate, no due process, and no public mandate—just unrestrained power,” stated the Awami League.

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