Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A total of 305 Bangladeshi candidates have withdrawn their nominations for the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) or National Parliamentary elections, leaving 1,967 contenders in the race, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshi-election-commissioner-warns-of-legal-action-over-postal-ballot-irregularities" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Election Commission</a> (EC) Secretariat Director (Public Relations) and Information Officer, Md Ruhul Amin Mallick, said the remaining candidates, comprising both party nominees and independents, will contest in 298 constituencies, excluding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2. Initially, EC officials said, 2,585 nomination papers were submitted for 300 seats.&nbsp; The deadline for withdrawal of candidatures expired at 5 pm on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Voting on Feb. 12Following EC regulations, election symbols will be allotted today, Jan. 21, and the list of candidates will be published simultaneously. Campaigning for the 13th JS elections will begin tomorrow, Jan. 22, and continue until 48 hours before polling day.&nbsp; Voting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, and will take place without interruption.&nbsp; Balloting will be conducted using transparent ballot boxes and printed ballot papers.&nbsp;Election schedule&nbsp;Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/eu-to-deploy-large-election-observation-mission-to-bangladesh-state-media" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">election schedule</a> in his address to the nation on Dec. 11, 2025.&nbsp; The last date for submission of nomination papers was Dec. 29.&nbsp;Election symbols&nbsp;According to an earlier EC circular, the allocation of election symbols and publication of candidate lists are to occur immediately after the withdrawal deadline.&nbsp; With 305 candidates stepping down, the remaining 1,967 hopefuls now prepare for the campaign trail. Mallick reiterated that the 1,967 candidates will contest across the constituencies, highlighting both party-affiliated and independent contenders.&nbsp; With voting just over three weeks away, all preparations are underway to ensure a transparent and uninterrupted election process.

Bangladesh

With 305 candidates withdrawing, the remaining 1,967 hopefuls now prepare for the campaign trail; Voting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Over 1,900 candidates to contest Bangladesh polls 

ISLAMABAD: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 56 long-term observers (LTOs) across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 12, state media reported Saturday. The state-run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), reported that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/eu-to-deploy-large-election-observation-mission-to-bangladesh-state-media" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">observers</a>&nbsp;were deployed following a brief ceremony held at a city hotel, where Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase underscored their role in assessing the electoral process. &ldquo;The long-term observers are a critical element of our mission. Their observations and insights will ground our impartial and fact-based evaluation of the electoral process,&rdquo; Lase said at the ceremony, according to the report. The EU EOM is following a robust and well-established methodology of long-term, nationwide observation to ensure a balanced and thorough assessment of the electoral process, the state news agency said. Long-term observers According to BSS, the long-term observers will closely monitor key aspects of the election at the regional level and support the analysis of the core expert team based in Dhaka. &ldquo;Our observers will work in teams of two and in their areas of observation, they will meet voters, election officials, candidates, and political parties, as well as citizen observers and youth activists, not only in the cities, but also in small towns and villages,&rdquo; Lase said. The observers have been drawn from European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland. Before deployment, they received extensive briefings on the electoral process, political environment, legal framework, and the media and social landscapes in Bangladesh, BSS reported. The mission was deployed following an invitation from the authorities of Bangladesh and is led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a member of the European Parliament. He officially launched the mission at a press conference on Jan. 11 in Dhaka. Short-term observers As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-interim-government-promises-credible-polls-amid-regional-diplomacy-focus" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">election day approaches</a>, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers, along with observers from diplomatic missions of European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, to observe voting, counting, and tabulation processes. A delegation of members of the European Parliament will also join the mission. At full strength, the European Union Election Observation Mission will comprise about 200 observers from all 27 European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, BSS reported. According to BSS, the mission is expected to present its preliminary findings at a press conference in Dhaka on Feb. 14. A final report with recommendations for future electoral processes will be submitted to the authorities after completion of the entire electoral process and will be made public. European Union officials said the mission operates under a strict code of conduct requiring neutrality and non-interference and conducts its activities in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005.

As election day approaches, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers, along with observers from diplomatic missions of European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, to observe voting, counting, and tabulation processes.

European Union deploys 56 long-term observers across Bangladesh

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retired) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Thursday warned that anyone attempting irregularities or fraud in voting through postal ballots, introduced for the first time for expatriate Bangladeshis, will face strict legal action, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) News reported. He said those involved in such offences would have their National Identity Cards (NIDs) blocked, face criminal cases, and, if necessary, be deported from the concerned countries. Electoral integrityThe election commissioner made the remarks while briefing journalists at Nirbachan Bhaban (Election Commission of Bangladesh ) in the capital&#39;s Agargaon following a virtual meeting with Bangladesh&#39;s ambassadors and heads of missions stationed abroad, BSS reported. Sanaullah said, &quot;We have categorically made it clear to everyone that electoral integrity must not be compromised under any circumstances. If anyone is found engaging in unethical practices over postal ballots to serve vested interests, there will be zero tolerance.&quot; Fresh election schedule&nbsp;The Election Commission (EC) has announced a fresh election schedule for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies in the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections, following directives from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, BSS reported on Friday. A gazette notification signed by EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Thursday night disclosed the matter, saying the revised schedule was fixed by cancelling the relevant portion of the previously issued gazette dated Dec. 11, 2025 in compliance with an order of the Appellate Division passed on Jan. 15. According to the new schedule, Jan. 18 has been fixed as the last date for submission of nomination papers to the returning or assistant returning officers, while scrutiny of the submitted nomination papers will be held on Jan. 19. Polling on Feb. 12&nbsp;Aggrieved candidates may file appeals against the decisions of the returning officers from Jan. 20 to Jan. 24, while disposal of the appeals will be completed on Jan. 25. Jan. 26 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of candidature, and election symbols will be allotted among the candidates on Jan. 27. The EC Secretariat said polling in the two constituencies will be held on Feb. 12 from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm continuously through ballot papers.&nbsp; Voters will cast their votes using transparent ballot boxes, the BSS reported.

Says, 'We have categorically made it clear to everyone that electoral integrity must not be compromised under any circumstances. If anyone is found engaging in unethical practices over postal ballots to serve vested interests, there will be zero tolerance.'

Articles tagged with "Election Commission of Bangladesh"

Over 1,900 candidates to contest Bangladesh polls

European Union deploys 56 long-term observers across Bangladesh

Bangladeshi election commissioner warns of legal action over postal ballot irregularities