Special correspondent
The schedule for the much-awaited next national election will be announced in the first half of December, in line with the election roadmap prepared by the Election Commission (EC), a senior EC official confirmed.
The roadmap, which the commission has already finalized, is set to be disclosed today (28 August 2025), the source added. Voting for the parliamentary elections is expected to be held in the first half of February.
Before announcing the election schedule, the Election Commission plans to hold dialogues with stakeholders in the second half of September, as outlined in the roadmap.
On Wednesday, the full commission held a meeting at the Election Commission building in Agargaon to discuss the roadmap. Following the meeting, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar told reporters, “Everything in the work plan has been finalized. It has been approved; now only typing is underway.”
Senior Secretary of the EC, Akhtar Ahmed, also hinted that the detailed roadmap for the 13th National Parliament election would be unveiled today (Thursday). Speaking at a briefing at the Media Center of the Election Commission building, he said, “We are still working on a few issues. I may be able to provide some additional information on Thursday.”
When asked whether the roadmap relates directly to the upcoming national election, the EC Secretary replied, “I have already answered your question. I said I will be able to share more information soon.” He further explained that some delays occurred as he was outside Dhaka, but the matter is now “on the table.”
Last Thursday, the four Election Commissioners and senior EC officials also held a meeting on the “Action Plan” for the 13th parliamentary elections. On that occasion, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah announced that a detailed briefing on the action plan and its implementation schedule would be held soon.
The Election Commission has already made progress on several preparatory issues, including party registration, delimitation of constituencies, election observers, reforms to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), issuance of rules and regulations, IT-supported registration, a postal ballot system for expatriates, and procurement of election equipment.
Earlier, in his address to the nation on August 5, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus declared that the 13th parliamentary elections would be held before Ramadan in February next year. The following day, the Chief Advisor’s Office sent a letter to the Election Commission instructing it to prepare for the polls.