Bangladesh election set for 12 February
The chairman of the Bangladesh Election Commission has announced the schedule for the upcoming parliamentary election. The deadline for nominations is 29 December with the final list published on 21 January. Excluded from the vote, the Awami League slams the commission as “illegal”. John Gomes (BNP) hopes the vote will be “free and fair”. The election is a test for the country's future.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) announced that the 13th General Election will be held on 12 February 2026. Chief Commissioner Nasir Uddin revealed the date yesterday in a televised address, emphasising his hope for a fair and credible vote.
“Our commitment is to hold an election that fulfils our expectations as a nation and brightens our image in the world,” he said, stressing that the constitution guarantees the sovereignty of the people, and that voting is the way to establish representative government.
Nasir Uddin acknowledged that the lack of quality elections in the past has often disappointed voters, and this has undermined democratic traditions. He described the 2024 pro-democracy popular uprising as a turning point.
He insisted that the next poll will uphold independence, sovereignty, and democracy, noting that the country's strength lies in its love of freedom and the sacrifices it made for independence.
According to the chief commissioner, voting will be held in 300 constituencies, along with a national referendum on the 2025 Constitutional Reform Implementation Order, in line with the July National Charter, which is expected to shape the future government and strengthen constitutional guarantees of democratic rights.
The electoral calendar sets the deadline for nominations at 29 December, with their scrutiny from 30 December to 4 January. Appeals against the decisions of election officials can be filed until 11 January and will be resolved by 18 January.
Candidates may withdraw until 20 January, and the final list with symbols will be published on 21 January. Campaigning will start on 22 January until 48 hours before the start of voting.
The announcement followed a meeting between the BEC and the president, after which the chief commissioner’s address was recorded and broadcast nationwide.
However, the calendar deadlines prompted strong reactions from political parties.
The Awami League (AL), which led the country's liberation war and won nine of the previous 12 elections, categorically rejected the electoral timetable. In a strongly worded statement, it accused the current administration of bias and described the BEC as "illegal" and controlled by "occupying forces."
According to the Awami League, it is impossible to reflect the will of the people under what it calls the current regime. Instead, it demanded sanctions against it be lifted and the legal cases against Sheikh Hasina be dropped, as well as the release of political prisoners, and the formation of a neutral interim government to supervise the elections.
The statement warned that excluding major political forces from the electoral process could plunge the nation into a deep political crisis and destabilise the democratic system.
Bangladesh's Christians, who have largely supported the Awami League, also find themselves marginalised after the government banned the political activities of several groups. This has generated frustration among Christians, who fear losing their voice in national politics.
John Gomes, assistant secretary for Religious Affairs of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, welcomed the announcement of the election timetable, expressing optimism for a fair and democratic process.
“We hope that the elections on 12 February will be free and fair, and that a truly democratic system will take root in the country – an essential foundation for our national progress.”
Gomes, who also serves as vice chairman of the Christian Religious Welfare Trust at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, stressed the importance of having the Christian community represented.
“In the upcoming election,” he explained, “we hope that members of our Christian community will have the opportunity to contest and win seats, enabling us to represent our community and serve our motherland. Such participation will contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.”
The upcoming election is widely seen as a test for Bangladesh's democratic future. Various political analysts note that the vote’s credibility will depend on the BEC’s ability to ensure a level playing field for all parties.
International observers should closely monitor the process, as Bangladesh's political stability logically has significant implications for South Asia and beyond.
In recent decades, the country has faced repeated electoral crises, often characterised by boycotts, violence, and allegations of fraud. Many fear that, if current tensions are not resolved, the February elections could deepen divisions rather than heal them.
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04/04/2023 14:37
23/11/2006
