Ballot materials reach polling centres, EC says environment favourable

Ballot papers and other voting materials for the 13th national election and the referendum on state reforms tomorrow (12 February) are reaching the polling centres in constituencies across the country under heavy security.

The scenes were similar in many centres around Dhaka city and various districts, with polling officials working round the clock to complete all preparations.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud, while visiting the news booth set up at the Nirbachan Bhaban today (11 February), said that the atmosphere for the referendum and the election is "very good".

"There is a festive atmosphere. We are working in a very planned manner. Hopefully, there will not be much delay in publishing the results," he said.

Voting materials being taken to Willes Little Flower School on 11 February 2026. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

In Satkhira, presiding officers from 609 centres collected ballots and 20 other types of election materials starting at 10am today (11 February).

Polling officials have been strictly instructed to remain at their centres and are prohibited from accepting food or hospitality from any candidates until the election process concludes.

In Lakshmipur, the distribution of materials began at 11am across four constituencies, including the Ramgati area.

Ballot papers and polling equipment were also reaching the centres in Munshiganj since the morning.

Meanwhile, in Rajshahi, authorities have deployed over 1.04 lakh security personnel to guard 5,504 polling centres.

To ensure transparency, more than 5,000 CCTV cameras and 2,318 body-worn cameras have been installed on officials.

Rajshahi's divisional commissioner has assured that law enforcement will respond to any untoward incident within five minutes.

Polling for both the 13th parliamentary election and the July Charter referendum is set to begin tomorrow at 7:30am.