Election Commissioner Sanaullah has said that the 13th parliamentary election will pave the way for restoring democracy

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad Sanaullah said today that Bangladesh’s democracy will be restored through the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.

He made the remarks while delivering the opening address at a workshop held this morning at Lakeshore Heights in Gulshan.

The event, titled “Building Bridges: Regional Electoral Governance and Citizen Observation Exchange,” was organised by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL).

“The 13th parliamentary election will be a landmark—one that will signal the restart of democratic governance,” Sanaullah said.

He expressed optimism that an unprecedented number of international observers will attend the polls, noting their interest in witnessing an election of significant historical importance.

Sanaullah said the Election Commission is fully prepared to hold the long-anticipated election in a free, disciplined and transparent manner.

“A fair, credible and impartial election—this is what the current Commission is ready to deliver,” he added.

He further noted that countering social media misinformation and preventing the misuse of artificial intelligence will be major challenges. The Commission, he said, is already taking necessary measures to manage these risks.

The commissioner also thanked participants for joining and supporting what he described as an important and meaningful initiative of the Election Commission.

According to EC officials, the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum may be announced roughly 60 days before polling, which is expected in the first half of February, ahead of Ramadan.

While final dates are yet to be set, the Commission has indicated that the announcement could come at any time in the first week of December.