Nation Heads to Polls Tomorrow for 13th General Election and Referendum

The 13th National Election and Referendum-2026 will be held tomorrow, with voting scheduled simultaneously in 299 parliamentary constituencies across the country from 7:30am to 4:30pm without a break.

The Election Commission (EC) has suspended polling in the Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of a candidate, reducing the number of active constituencies from 300 to 299.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud told BSS that comprehensive preparations and extensive security arrangements have been completed to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls. Nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed nationwide, including more than 100,000 army members. He said the country has been placed under tight security and the law and order situation remains normal.

Expressing optimism, Machud urged voters—particularly young and first-time voters—to turn out in large numbers and exercise their democratic rights in a festive atmosphere. “People will be able to vote without fear and return home safely,” he said.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar said all administrative, technical and security preparations for the election and referendum have been finalized. He noted that the highest number of law enforcement personnel in the country’s history has been deployed and predicted voter turnout could be around 55 percent, either slightly higher or lower.

According to EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, voting will take place at 42,779 polling centres with 247,482 polling booths nationwide. A total of 50 political parties are contesting the polls, with 2,028 candidates in the race—1,755 from political parties and 273 independent contenders. Among them are 83 female candidates (63 party nominees and 20 independents). BNP has fielded the highest number of candidates, with 291.

EC Secretariat Director (Public Relations) Md Ruhul Amin Mollick said 12,77,11,893 voters are expected to cast their ballots in 299 constituencies. Of them, 6,48,25,361 are male voters, 6,28,85,200 female voters and 1,232 third-gender voters.

Around 800,000 officials will be engaged in conducting the polls, including 69 Returning Officers, 598 Assistant Returning Officers, 42,779 Presiding Officers, 247,482 Assistant Presiding Officers and 495,964 polling officers. An additional 15,000 officials will oversee postal voting.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said approximately 958,000 members of various law enforcement agencies have been deployed. For the first time, UAVs, drones and body-worn cameras will be used to enhance security.

Security deployment includes 103,000 army personnel, 3,500 air force members, 5,000 navy personnel, 37,453 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, and 3,585 Coast Guard personnel in coastal constituencies. Additionally, 187,603 police, 9,349 RAB members, 567,868 Ansar personnel and 1,922 BNCC members will be on duty.

A total of 2,098 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates have been assigned to oversee election-related duties. Judicial magistrates will serve for five days—from February 10 to February 14—to handle election-related offences. Since the announcement of the schedule, 1,047 executive magistrates have been appointed to enforce the electoral code of conduct, with another 1,051 deployed to maintain law and order.

About 55,454 observers from 81 local organisations will monitor the polls, including 7,997 central observers and 47,457 constituency-level observers.

At least 394 international observers and 197 foreign journalists have arrived to monitor the election and referendum. Among the observers, 80 represent international organisations, 239 come from bilateral partner countries—including independent European observers—and 51 are affiliated with global institutions in their individual capacities.

Major observer groups include ANFREL (28), the Commonwealth Secretariat (27), the International Republican Institute (19), and the National Democratic Institute (1). Other organisations include the OIC, ICAPP and the European External Action Service. Observers are also participating from 21 countries, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, China, Japan and South Africa, among others.

A total of 15,33,684 overseas (OCV) and domestic (ICPV) voters registered through the Postal Vote BD mobile app. Of them, 7,72,546 are expatriates and 7,61,138 are domestic voters.

Voting will be conducted using ballot papers and transparent ballot boxes. Voters present within polling centre premises after 4:30pm will be allowed to cast their ballots in accordance with the law.