United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed the relevant authorities to send SMS alerts to all government officials and employees, encouraging them to register for voting through postal ballots ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and the referendum on the July Charter. The instruction was given in a letter signed on Wednesday (December 17) by KM Ali Newaz, Additional Secretary of the Election Commission and Project Director of the OCV–SDI project. According to the letter, government officials and employees working inside the country, as well as officers and employees of the armed forces who receive salaries through the iBAS++ system, will be able to cast their votes through an IT-supported postal ballot after completing registration via the “Postal Vote BD” app. The registration process will remain open until December 25, 2025, the letter said. Read more: EU deploys election observation mission to Bangladesh The 13th parliamentary election and the referendum will be held simultaneously on February 12, 2026. The EC has instructed the authorities concerned to send SMS messages to all military and civilian government officials and employees who are drawing salaries through the iBAS++ system, requesting them to complete their registration through the app by the stipulated deadline. The SMS text will be “All government officials and employees (military and civilian) are requested to complete registration through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app by December 25, 2025, to cast votes through IT-supported postal ballots.” The Commission said postal ballots will be sent by mail to the registered voters’ addresses. After casting their votes, voters will have to return the ballots in the provided return envelopes to the respective returning officers. Though the postal balloting system has been in the laws for a long time, it was never practised in the previous elections. Read more: ‘In-Country Postal Vote’ registration to continue till Dec 25: EC This is the first time the Election Commission has introduced an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system, enabling expatriates, government staff, polling personnel, and the persons who will be in the legal custody to exercise their franchise through a combination of digital registration and manual voting. Among them, the probable polling personnel who are not in the government services, and the prisoners will be able to register after December 17 to 25 for voting through the postal ballots in the upcoming election. So far 46,701 government officials and employees registered through the app to vote in the February-12 election after the announcement of the election schedule announced on December 11. The Election Commission said postal ballots will be sent by mail to the registered voters’ addresses. After casting their votes, voters will have to return the ballots in the provided return envelopes to the respective returning officers. The EC also said that instructions in this regard have already been sent to the Secretary of the Finance Division. 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). Read more: February election to lay strong foundation for democracy: Rizwana

In response to a formal invitation by Bangladesh authorities, the High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas has decided to deploy an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 February 2026.  The High Representative has appointed Ivars Ijabs, Member of the European Parliament, as its chief observer.  Read more: IRI pre-election observation team meets EC Sanaullah "I am honoured to lead this EU Election Observation Mission to Bangladesh, which will deliver an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process," Chief Observer Ijabs said on Tuesday. 

All preparations have been taken for the upcoming national parliamentary elections, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday (December 08, 2025). “All necessary preparation including training for law enforcement agencies, purchase of body-worn cameras and ensuring electricity at every polling station have been taken,” he said. The Home Adviser came up with the remarks while briefing reporters after the 17th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on law and order, held at the Secretariat. Read more: National election will be a major test for law enforcers: Adviser Touhid “Training is essential for carrying out any preparation effectively. There is no alternative to proper training. We are continuing training programmes for law enforcement personnel to ensure a free, fair, safe and acceptable election. These will be completed by January,” Jahangir Alam said. “This year, the voting hours have been extended by one hour from 7:30am to 4:30pm which means the counting will continue even after sunset, so we are making arrangements to ensure uninterrupted electricity at all polling centers,” he added. Responding to a question about the killing of a police officer’s parents in Rangpur, the adviser said instructions have been given to arrest the perpetrators soon and bring them under the law. Regarding the recovery of looted firearms, Jahangir Alam said the process is underway. Asked about ensuring a level playing field for the election, the adviser said the government is committed to ensuring a free and fair election. Referring to the Jatiya Party’s allegation, the adviser said, “It is not correct and there are some internal disputes among them.” Read more: Election schedule soon as request made for recording CEC’s address

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday made it clear that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held under her Awami League government and it will be free and fair. “So under our government, definitely election will be free and fair,” she told a session titled "In conversation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina" of the Qatar Economic Forum at the Raffles Hotel here in Doha. Haslinda Amin, editor-at-large of Qatar Economic Forum anchored the session. The prime minister is now in Doha on a three-day official visit mainly to take part in the Qatar Economic Forum 2023.  Her assertion came as the opposition BNP and its allies have launched a renewed campaign of street protests asking her government to step down to pave the way for holding the next election under a neutral caretaker administration. Also Read: PM joins opening session of Qatar Economic Forum  Bangladesh is due to go to  polls by December this year or in the first week of next year.  Responding to a question, she said that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, military dictators jeopardised all election process.  “The election was just a game (then),” she said. She recalled that when the Awami League elected her as its president back in 1981 in her absence only then she could return to the country.  “Since then we started to struggle for restoring democracy and people’s right to vote. It was our struggle to ensure free and fair election. And we did it during our time in every election,” she said. Regarding the opposition BNP's demand, Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, said that in 2008 election nobody raised any question about it. “What was the result then? The party (BNP) which is raising the question now got only 29 out of 300 seats in the Parliament,” she said. Sounding firm the prime minister said that she is here to ensure people’s voting right, Because people should decide who will run the country.  “It is people’s power, I want to ensure people’s power. I am here not to grab power. Rather I want to empower our people that they should have their right to choose their government,” she said. Replying to a question, Hasina mentioned that now some parties said they will not participate. “How will they participate? Because during their time the country suffered a lot. Our people suffered. At their time terrorist activities increased. Everywhere there was corruption, nepotism and exploitation. They never bothered about the people. It was very difficult for our people to get one meal per day. That was the situation,” she said.   She said that after the Awami League came to power it has ensured everything for the people.   “It's the people’s right to vote in election. What we have done now the people understand that. If they vote for us I am here, if they don't, ok fine,” she said clearly. Also Read: PM reaches Doha for Qatar Economic Forum 2023 The PM said that during her tenure there had been many by-elections, local government elections, which were free and fair.  “You can see, who is creating problem. We are not. But in every election some incidents may take place,” she said. She also mentioned that the government has asked everybody to send election observers to Bangladesh for the next voting.  “So I can tell you I am here to ensure my people’s democratic right, voting right and it is our struggle," she stated. She said that she is here to serve the country and its people so they could live a better and prosperous life.  “Bangladesh should be a developed country, that is my aim. Why should I try to jeopardise people’s right that we have established. Definitely election will be free and fair.” She also termed BNP as a party of criminals and killers. “They (BNP) may not feel comfortable. But, there are other parties, those parties will participate in the election," she said.  Replying to a question IMF's recent loan to Bangladesh, PM Hasina said the IMF assists only the country that can repay the loan. In providing the loan, the IMF considered whether the country can pay it back or not, she said  "We'll definitely be able to pay it back," said the PM. The premier said Bangladesh has successfully  overcome the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic due to her government's pragmatic plans and steps.  

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said the next parliamentary polls will be impartial to be held in due time as per the constitution. “No matter who comes or not, the poll will not be delayed,” the minister said. Read: Work for the people’s welfare, not for personal gain, Quader asks AL members Quader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inspecting the construction work of the second bridge at Gabtali Aminbazar in the Aminbazar area of Savar on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway on Tuesday morning. He further said that the government is ready to suppress any attempt of BNP to create chaos in the name of movement. “Everyone knows the history of BNP. The BNP activists earlier had set fire to many cars, houses, land offices and other facilities. And so, they completely got alienated from people,” he said. Read: No chance for fresh debate over caretaker govt: Quader “So, there is no need to make evil attempts to make chaos unnecessarily centring the election,” the minister said. Quader also warned that if any party creates any chaos in the name of movement in the country, it will be crushed with iron hands. Senior officials of the Roads and Highways Department were present during the inspection.