EC Fully Ready To Hold 13th Parliamentary Elections In Early February

The Election Commission (EC) has finalized all preparations to hold the 13th national parliamentary elections in the first half of February next year.

In an exclusive interview with the national news agency BSS, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said, “There is no obstacle at this stage to holding the polls. Our preparations are 100 percent complete.”

“We are fully ready to conduct the election in the first or second week of February,” he added.

He further mentioned that the imported indelible ink for voting has already arrived — a key component of the electoral process — and that most essential tasks have been completed.

On the prevailing law and order situation, Masud stressed the need for peace and stability, saying, “A calm environment is essential not only for the election but also for the nation’s overall progress and stability.”

As political parties have started announcing their candidates, he noted that the electoral atmosphere is gradually taking shape. “Once campaigning begins, we believe the situation will improve further,” he said.

Describing the upcoming general election as “highly significant,” the commissioner remarked, “Without an elected government and a functioning democracy, there can be no stability or sustainable development. Therefore, the election must be free, fair, and participatory.”

Addressing concerns over past electoral irregularities, he said the current EC’s foremost goal is to restore public confidence.

“We have no alternative but to ensure a credible election. In the interest of the nation and to regain people’s trust, it must be free, fair, and acceptable. Our aim is to turn this election into a true festival of democracy,” Masud said.

An EC Secretariat official told BSS that all primary tasks — including the procurement of election materials, legal amendments, and updating of the voter list — will be completed by November.

“All preparations will be finalized before the election schedule is announced in early December,” the official added.

According to the latest EC data, Bangladesh now has 12,76,12,384 registered voters — 6,47,60,382 male, 6,28,50,772 female, and 1,230 third-gender (Hijra) voters. Between September 1 and October 31, the total number of voters increased by 13,04,880.