The Election Commission on Thursday asked the Home Ministry to deploy necessary number of police personnel to ensure the security of the offices of Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) ahead of the upcoming national election and the referendum, scheduled for February 12, 2026.
“Necessary directives should be given to deploy the required number of police forces to ensure the security of the offices of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers,” said a letter sent to the ministry.
It said that these offices store important election-related documents, electoral materials and equipment.
|Considering the law and order situation during the election period, the EC has given its decision that it is essential to ensure the security of the preserved documents and materials, as well as the safety of the officials and employees working in those offices,” said the letter.
The Election Commission appointed two divisional commissioners and 64 district deputy commissioners (DCs) and three of its own officials as returning officers for the February 12 election and referendum.
The divisional commissioners for Dhaka and Chattogram and the Regional Election Officers of Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna were made returning officers alongside the 64 DCs in the election.
Besides, more than 600 government and EC officials, mostly Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) were made assistant returning officers in the election.
Bangladesh’s EC invites applications from international election observers
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on December 11 last announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next.
According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination paper is on December 30-January 4 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20.
The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).