United News of Bangladesh

The government has launched a special information service through national helpline 333 in collaboration with the Bangladesh Election Commission. The initiative aims to make the election process more transparent, participatory, and citizen-friendly. Citizens can call the toll-free number 333 from any mobile operator and press 9 to receive necessary information and assistance related to the election, according to a press release issued by the Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology  Ministry. Services under this initiative include guidance on voting procedures, polling station locations, national ID card details, election-time conduct, voting rules for expatriates, special facilities for differently-abled, elderly, and female voters as well as emergency instructions and essential contact numbers. The helpline also provides detailed guidance on using the Election Commission’s designated apps, Smart Election Management BD and Postal Vote BD. Since its pilot launch on January 16, the service has already assisted 1,643 citizens with election-related information. Besides, the authorities are exploring the use of option 9 on 333 as a tool to collect information on law-and-order situation, detect potential unrest early, and quickly alert the relevant authorities. However, the helpline will not function as a direct police control room and it will operate as an “Information Intake, Early Warning & Forwarding System,” forwarding necessary information to 999 or the concerned authorities as required.

Six international organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have agreed to deploy at least 63 observers for Bangladesh’s 13th general election and the referendum on the July National Charter, both scheduled for February. They will join observer missions from the European Union, 16 countries and 32 individuals affiliated with various global bodies, bringing the total number of confirmed international observers for the dual polls to 330 so far, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing on Saturday. The number of international observers confirmed for the upcoming election is more than double that of the controversial general election held on January 7, 2024. The number of international observers for the 12th, 11th, and 10th general elections stood at 158, 125, and four respectively. Shakir Mahmood Bandar, Head of the OIC Election Observation Unit, will lead the two-member OIC observer mission. Besides, 28 observers will arrive from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), 25 from the Commonwealth Secretariat, seven from the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), and one from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), also based in the United States. Thirty-two observers representing organisations such as Voice for Justice, Democracy International, SNAS Africa, the SAARC Human Rights Foundation, and the Polish Institute of International Affairs will monitor the election in their individual capacities, according to information received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Election Commission. 16 countries to send 57 observers for Feb 12 election “We expect the number of international observers to increase, as several countries invited to send observer missions have yet to confirm the names of their delegates,” said Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Murshed, who is overseeing coordination of the international observer visits. The invited countries yet to confirm their delegates include India, Nepal, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, and Romania. Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) is also expected to name its delegates soon. Nearly 2,000 candidates, representing more than 50 political parties as well as independent contenders, are contesting the 300 parliamentary seats. The general election in Bangladesh will be held simultaneously with a referendum on the July National Charter.

The submission deadline for nomination papers for Bangladesh’s upcoming national election closed at 5:00 pm on Monday, with most candidates filing their papers on time. Most of the aspirants submitted their nomination papers today as only 166 nomination papers were filed till Sunday to contest the 13th parliamentary election scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026. However, the number of aspirants who submitted nomination papers to contest from the country’s 300 constituencies will be informed by the Election Commission once the compilation is done following gleaning the data from the 69 returning officers in the election. Jamaat Sec Gen Parwar submits nomination paper According to the EC’s Central Coordination Committee, a total of 3,144 nomination papers were collected to run the polls from the country’s 300 constituencies till Sunday after the election schedule announced on December 11 last. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on December 11 announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament 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. No approval needed for repair, renovation of polling stations: EC The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10). This time the Commission appointed 69 returning officers –two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), three regional election officers (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna) and 64 district deputy commissioners. The collection and submission of nomination papers started on December 12, a day after the announcement of the election schedule.  

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday urged US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas not to harm the friendship with Bangladesh by making unwanted comments about Bangladesh elections and the rule of law. He said this at the first preparatory meeting of the 22nd National Council at the political office of the party president in Dhanmondi in the morning. Read more: US concerned about reports of intimidation, political violence in Dhaka “Do not make unwanted comments or interfere in any issue of Bangladesh. Election fraud is not only happening in Bangladesh, but also in the United States. There is still another party complaining about election rigging in the US,” said Quader. He said mass shootings are common in the US. “Every day two, three or five people are killed in mass shootings. But you are talking about the human rights of Bangladesh.”  “Sheikh Hasina will not listen to anybody's orders. She does not fear anyone except Allah.” "We have bitter experiences with the US. We saw their role in 1971 and 1975. Despite all these incidents, we want a good relationship with the US.” Read more: US Embassy issues alert for its citizens in Bangladesh He also said no one will benefit from this type of comment. These will only be a barrier to good relations. Bangladesh wants to maintain friendship with the US, he added. On Thursday, the US Embassy in Dhaka expressed its concern over reports of intimidation and political violence in Dhaka and called on everyone to respect the rule of law. "We are concerned about reports of intimidation and political violence in Dhaka and call on everyone to respect the rule of law and to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation,"  Haas said in a message through the verified Facebook page of the Embassy on Thursday. He said they encourage government authorities to investigate these reports of violence and to protect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.