With the upcoming national election scheduled for February on the horizon, the Election Commission and state authorities are actively engaged in finalizing preparations before the expected announcement of the schedule in early December.
Yesterday, the Election Commission released the final voter list, validated the registration of two new political parties, and introduced a mobile application to assist overseas Bangladeshis in registering as voters. Simultaneously, the government initiated a comprehensive awareness campaign spanning all 64 districts and 300 upazilas to involve citizens at the grassroots level and enhance the celebratory spirit of the elections.
Concurrently, significant administrative reshuffling is in progress, with deputy commissioners in 50 districts already replaced, and the process of transferring police superintendents initiated on Monday. These administrative adjustments are part of a broader initiative to promote inclusivity and transparency in the much-anticipated polls.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus reiterated the interim government’s dedication to conducting a free, fair, and festive election in early February during a meeting with Dutch Vice-Minister for International Cooperation, Pascalle Grotenhuis. Prof Yunus emphasized that the Awami League would not participate in the election due to its activities being prohibited and its registration suspended by the Election Commission.
The Chief Adviser noted the historic significance of the youth who engaged in graffiti and artwork during the July uprising now having the opportunity to cast their votes.
In a press briefing, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed disclosed that an estimated 12.76 crore registered voters are anticipated to participate in the forthcoming national election. The voter demographic comprises 6.48 crore males, 6.28 crore females, and 1,234 individuals from the hijra community. The voting process is expected to take place at 42,761 polling centers with a total of 2,44,739 booths.
Furthermore, the Election Commission officially registered two political parties, the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist). While overall preparations are progressing steadily, discussions with political parties and finalizing the list of local observers are areas where advancements are relatively slower.
The Election Commission has engaged in talks with 34 parties since November 13 and is scheduled to meet with additional parties, including the BNP, Jamaat, and NCP. The commission aims to conclude discussions with all 56 registered parties by the following day.
Introducing the “Postal Vote BD” app for the first time, the EC launched an IT-enabled postal voting system to facilitate voting for Bangladeshi expatriates in approximately 140 countries. The registration period, organized into seven regions, will run from November 19 to December 23, with each region allocated a specific timeframe for registration.
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced the approval, in principle, of a voter awareness campaign proposal by the cultural affairs ministry following advisory council committee meetings on economic affairs and government purchases at the Secretariat. The government plans to allocate Tk 25 crore towards publicity activities to create a festive ambiance leading up to the election.
In addition to government initiatives, the EC has devised an extensive awareness campaign to educate citizens on the voting process, electoral regulations, and other relevant guidelines.
The Election Commission unveiled its electoral roadmap in August, accompanied by amendments to the Representation of the People Order, 1972, in line with the EC’s recommendations. The commission also revised the electoral code of conduct for parties and candidates.
The EC conducted the delimitation of 300 constituencies on September 4, redrawing boundaries for 46 parliamentary seats across 16 districts. Disputes over some constituency redrawings led to legal petitions filed with the High Court, with the commission optimistic about resolving these disputes promptly.
Following stakeholder consultations, the EC updated guidelines for journalists, observers, and polling station setup. Trainers are being prepared to instruct election officials, with the final selection and training to commence post the announcement of the election schedule.
Additionally, the EC engaged with law enforcement agencies and intelligence services on October 20 and government officials on October 30 to ensure comprehensive readiness for the upcoming election. Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, in a meeting with German ambassador Rudiger Loltz, emphasized the preparedness of law enforcement agencies for their election duties.