Election schedule likely to be announced in early December: EC Sanuallah
Sanuallah said the 2026 election would be ‘the most transparent election in Bangladesh’s history’
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) Abul Fazl Md Sanuallah said the schedule for the 13th National Election will be announced in the first half of December.
Observer organisations will be required to submit their lists to the Election Commission (EC) within 10 days of the schedule's announcement.
He made the remarks today (25 November) at a daylong dialogue between the EC and representatives of domestic election observer organisations, held at the EC headquarters from 10:30am.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Sanuallah said the 2026 election would be "the most transparent election in Bangladesh's history."
"Anyone attempting to disrupt that will not be given the slightest concession. Upcoming national election would be participatory, with a higher voter turnout" he added.
He stressed that observers must remain neutral both individually and institutionally.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasiruddin called on observers to work as collaborators of the EC. "It is our responsibility to arrange a good election," he said.
The CEC urged observer groups to play an active role in ensuring transparency and accountability on the ground. He emphasised two key issues for observer organisations but did not detail them publicly.
Addressing around 40 observer organisation representatives, Nasiruddin said, "We want to view the entire election process through the eyes of the observers to deliver a fair, orderly, and credible election. Field-level observers appointed by the organisations must not engage in any political activities or campaigns."
The CEC said, "We have promised the nation a fair, beautiful, and credible election. It will require collective effort. This is a national responsibility that cannot be fulfilled by the Election Commission alone."
Referring to both longstanding and new observer groups in attendance, he added, "I don't want to dig into the past. There may have been mistakes, but we want to move forward by learning from them."
Nasiruddin said the election will have its own supervisory and official mechanisms, but the EC also wants to see the election 'through the eyes' of the observers. "If your eyes are distorted, then our view of the election will also be distorted," he remarked.
He further said that observers and journalists together act as his 'CCTV cameras', essential for ensuring transparency. With their combined cooperation, he expects a well-conducted election.
The CEC also noted that newly accredited observer groups must receive proper training. He said the minimum age for observers has been lowered to 21 this year, but those appointed must not be affiliated with any political party or activities.
"We all must work together to ensure a beautiful election," he added.
