EC preparing for elections aimed at Feb-April window next year: CEC

The Election Commission is preparing for the upcoming national election with a tentative timeline between February and April next year, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said today (1 July).

Speaking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, CEC Nasir Uddin elaborated on the EC's readiness to hold the election whenever the government decides.

"February was mentioned as a possible election month during the meeting [in London between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman], but earlier, April was also discussed. We are preparing for both months," he said.

He added that the election schedule is typically announced about two months before the polling date.

Nasir Uddin said there was no discussion on the exact election date during a meeting with the chief adviser on 26 June. "The date will be officially announced through the commission once it is finalised," he said.

He described his meeting with the chief adviser as a courtesy call during which "some issues were discussed."

At the meeting, the chief adviser asked about the EC's preparations to ensure a free, fair, and credible election. "He [Yunus] is sincerely committed to ensuring a proper voting process. We informed him that the commission is gearing up in full swing," said the CEC.

When asked which election preparations are underway, the CEC said, "At the moment, we are preparing for the national election. If local government elections need to be held, we can use the existing voter list.

"But our focus is on the national election. The chief adviser is not talking about local elections. The promises he is making to the nation, both domestically and internationally, are about the national election. So, we are preparing accordingly."

When a journalist asked about the National Citizen Party claiming that "the EC will be reconstituted," the CEC replied, "Political parties say many things. We've seen their demands in newspapers. No message has been given [from the government] about reconstituting the EC."

On 6 June, the day before Eid-ul-Adha, Yunus said in a televised address to the nation that the national election would be held in the first half of April 2026. Later, on 13 June, BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman met with the chief adviser in London. Following the meeting, a joint statement announced that if all preparations are completed, the election could be held in the first half of February next year, before the month of Ramadan.