Election schedule by 11 Dec, polls likely in second week of Feb: EC Anwarul
EC plans to extend voting period by one hour for polls, referendum
The schedule for the upcoming 12th national parliamentary election will be announced within 11 December, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar said today (2 December).
Speaking to The Business Standard, the commissioner said, "The election schedule will be declared by 11 December and the national polls will likely be held in the second week of February."
Earlier in the day, EC Anwarul told reporters that the schedule may be announced any day after a crucial commission meeting on Sunday. "We have taken all preparations for the election. The exact date of announcing the schedule will be finalised in the next commission meeting."
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The commission had previously announced that the election must take place in the first half of February, ahead of Ramadan.
The holding of the national election has been a long-standing subject of discussion among political parties and the public across the country.
Officials said the commission has already begun the preliminary preparatory work for the polls.
The announcement of the schedule marks the official commencement of the election process, granting candidates the opportunity to submit their nomination papers, undergo scrutiny, withdraw their candidacies, and be allotted election symbols.
The specific date of the election will be fixed through the schedule.
Commissioner Anwarul's comments suggest that the EC's preparations are in the final stages, and the election date will be determined very shortly.
As part of its preparations for the referendum and general elections, the EC organised a mock voting exercise in the capital on Saturday.
EC plans to extend voting hours by one hour
The Election Commission is considering extending the voting period by one hour for the upcoming national parliamentary election and the referendum.
According to EC officials, both the election and the referendum will be held between 8 and 14 February.
If the two are held on the same day, more time will be needed for voting, prompting the commission to consider extending voting period by one hour -- from the usual timing 8am-4pm to 7:30am-4:30pm.
Regarding the proposal, EC Anwarul told TBS that the commission is examining whether the voting hours can be extended. "A final decision will be taken in the commission meeting next Sunday."
The proposal to lengthen voting time was also raised earlier this week at a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, attended by secretaries of various ministries and departments.
Officials suggested extending the hours to ensure the smooth counting of both referendum and election ballots without delay. To expedite voting, the EC also plans to install at least two secret stamping booths in each polling centre.
