Draft election roadmap finalised, to be unveiled this week: EC secretary

Highlights:

• 1,760 objections and suggestions received concerning 83 constituencies
• Around 42,000 polling centres required to serve 12 crore voters in the last election
• The number of voters in the upcoming polls will be nearly 13 crore 
• Booth capacity may increase from 500 to 600 voters
• 22 parties under verification for registration

The Election Commission (EC) has finalised the draft action plan for the 13th national election and will publish the complete roadmap this week, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has said.

The draft has been prepared after inter-departmental coordination and will be placed before the commission for approval within the week, he told the media at the commission's headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon today.

Akhtar Ahmed further said hearings on objections and suggestions concerning the delimitation of 83 parliamentary constituencies will commence on 24 August and continue for four consecutive days.

He also confirmed that the number of polling centres will not increase, with each centre expected to accommodate 3,000 voters. 

"We have discussed the polling centre guidelines in the monthly coordination meeting. The number will not rise, but that doesn't mean centres will remain unchanged. Adjustments will be made rationally, if necessary," he said.

The senior secretary noted that calculations were underway to see if centres could accommodate voters by adjusting booth allocations. 

"Currently, each booth is designated for 500 voters. If we extend this to 600, we may be able to manage without increasing centres," he added.

On political party registration, he said verification of 22 parties that applied for registration is ongoing at the field level.

"Those whose applications have been rejected will be notified with specific reasons, including which requirements they failed to meet," he said.

When asked about election-time law and order, Akhtar Ahmed dismissed concerns. "It is not a matter for us to worry about now. At this stage, our responsibility is election management." 

He further mentioned that preparations were underway to define responsibilities and coordination mechanisms for field-level officials, including appointing focal persons and issuing directives.

EC sources estimate that the number of voters in the upcoming election will approach 13 crore, compared with over 12 crore in the last parliamentary polls, which required more than 42,000 polling centres.

The 13th national election is expected to be held in early February 2026, ahead of Ramadan, which will begin on 17 or 18 February. 

Delimitation hearing from 24 Aug

An EC notification issued today said hearings on objections and suggestions regarding the re-demarcation of constituencies will take place between 24 and 27 August at the commission's office. 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin will chair the sessions, with four election commissioners and the secretary also present.

The commission has received 1,760 objections and suggestions concerning 83 constituencies before the 10 August deadline. 

It clarified that no fresh submissions will be accepted and only original objectors, or authorised legal representatives may attend the hearings with proper identification and documentation.

According to the schedule, hearings for the Cumilla region will be held on 24 August, followed by Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram on 25 August, Dhaka on 26 August, and Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Faridpur and Sylhet on 27 August.