46 lakh new voters in draft list of 12.62cr
Final voter list to be released on 31 August
Highlights:
- 13th national election likely in first half of February 2026
- Total voters: 12,61,70,900 after updates
- New voters: 45,71,216
- Ineligible voters removed: 21,32,590
- Claims/objections deadline: 21 August
- Final voter list release: 31 August
- Previous total (2 March 2025): 12,37,32,274
The Election Commission (EC) has released the supplementary draft voter list ahead of the upcoming 13th national election, which is likely to be held in the first half of February next year.
Following the addition of new voters and removal of ineligible ones, Bangladesh now has a total of 12,61,70,900 registered voters as of 30 June, according to EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
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Speaking to journalists at the EC headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon today (10 August), he said objections and claims regarding the draft list can be submitted until 21 August.
The final voter list will be published on 31 August after resolving these issues, he added.
The senior secretary noted that as of 2 March this year, the total number of voters stood at 12,37,32,274. In a follow-up drive to enlist excluded eligible voters, officials collected information door-to-door, adding 45,71,216 new voters to the list.
During the same period, 21,32,590 names -- dead or ineligible -- were removed from the list, he said.
Overall, he said, as per the supplementary voter list updated until 30 June this year, the total number of voters in the country stands at 12,61,70,900.
Of the total, 6,40,06,916 are male voters and 6,21,62,760 are female voters, Akhtar said, adding that the rate of voter inclusion in 2025 is 3.69% and the rate of increase of voters is 1.97%.
Noting that the supplementary draft voter list has been published in all EC offices around the country today, he said if anyone has any corrections in this regard, they can freely inform the EC about it.
"We will finalise the draft voter list on 31 August. In addition, we will publish another list, including those who will be 18 years of age by 31 October.
"This opportunity has been provided in the new law so that new voters do not have to wait for a year," said the senior secretary, reports BSS.
About 5 lakh new voters in greater Chattogram
Meanwhile, the Chattogram region, the largest in Bangladesh, is set to see nearly 5,00,000 new voters added to the electoral roll in the draft voter list.
Previously, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and the three hill districts – Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari -- had around 95 lakh voters. With the new additions, the total in the region will reach approximately 1 crore.
Chattogram Regional Election Officer Mohammad Belayet Hossain Chowdhury told The Business Standard, "Election officials in each upazila published the draft updated voter list today. In this update, around 5 lakh new voters from Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari are being added.
"The upazila offices have posted the lists in designated public places. Any errors or complaints will be addressed. These new voters will be included in the list for the upcoming 13th national election."
According to the Chattogram District Election Office, data collectors conducted a door-to-door campaign from 20 January to 3 February to gather information on new voters. Between 5 February and 11 April, biometric registration, including photographs, was completed.
During this period, 3,04,283 new voters were registered in Chattogram city and district, of which 2,52,283 were from 15 upazilas and 52,000 were from the port city. Those who turn 18 by 31 October this year will be eligible to vote in the 13th national election.
The update also saw the removal of 93,837 deceased voters and the transfer of 24,799 voters to different locations.
Individuals will have 12 days to correct any errors in the draft voter list. Applications for inclusion, removal of ineligible or deceased persons, voter transfers, and other corrections (using Forms 2, 12, 13, and 14) can be submitted until 21 August. These will be resolved by the respective upazila, thana, or registration officers by 24 August.
