Bangladesh to hold parliamentary elections on February 12, excluding major parties including Awami League

POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Dec11, 2025 : The Election Commission (EC) has announced the schedule of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh to consolidate democracy, excluding the Awami League. Voting will be held on February 12 as per the election schedule.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced the schedule of the 13th parliamentary elections through a pre-recorded speech on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar on Thursday.
The CEC said that along with the 300-seat 13th parliamentary elections on Thursday, February 12, 2026, a referendum will be held on the National Constitution Amendment Implementation Order 2025 adopted in July. The last date for filing nomination papers for the elections is December 29. The nomination papers will be selected from December 30 to January 4.
He said that the last date for filing an appeal to the commission against the order of the Returning Officer is January 11. The appeals filed with the commission will be disposed of from January 12 to 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The Returning Officer will publish the final list of candidates and allocate symbols on January 21. The election campaign will continue from January 22 until 48 hours before the start of voting, that is, until 7:30 am on Tuesday, February 10.
In his speech, the CEC said that the main goal of this commission is to hold fair and acceptable elections. In the meantime, an accurate voter list has been prepared, and the almost ineffective postal voting has been implemented.
The CEC said that currently the total number of voters in the country is 127.695 thousand 183. Of which 64.814 thousand 907 are male voters and 62.879 thousand are female voters.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) met President Md. Sahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Wednesday afternoon to fix the date of the vote before the scheduled record. The EC Secretary said that the President has been informed about the preparations for the national election and referendum and the President has expressed satisfaction.
Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has extended his warm greetings and congratulations to the Election Commission for announcing the schedule of the 13th National Parliament Election and the July National Charter-2025 Implementation Order.
In his congratulatory message, the Chief Advisor said, ‘With the announcement of this schedule, Bangladesh’s democratic journey has crossed an important milestone. This election and referendum will strengthen the new path that the country is now moving on after the historic mass uprising, give priority to the opinion of the people and further consolidate the foundation of the new Bangladesh.’
It is worth noting that the last election was held in 2024 and the 12th. Sheikh Hasina won a fourth term after the 2018 election, which was a violent election and was widely criticized as corrupt. After the 2024 election, she became the Prime Minister for the fifth term. Sheikh Hasina went into exile in India on August 5, 2024. The NCP has been demanding a ban on the Awami League since Mohammad Yunus took power. Later, the Awami League was banned. The Chief Election Commissioner announced the upcoming schedule excluding Sheikh Hasina and her party, the Awami League, from the 13th election.
However, there is a possibility that several major parties, including the Awami League, which has formed the government six times, will boycott the elections.
Since independence, heads of government have fallen at various times for various reasons. The last Awami League’s 16-year rule ended on August 5, 2024. Out of the past 12 parliamentary elections, seven parliaments were dissolved in the face of various movements and public discontent and were forced to hold new elections. After the last 12th national parliament elections, the parliament was in effect for only six months. The President dissolved the 12th parliament and formed an interim government after dissolving it.
Although the country is currently being run under an interim government, the government is moving towards a free, fair and impartial election. Although several parties, including the Awami League, which has formed the government six times, may be out of the elections this time.
Since independence, 12 parliamentary elections have been held in Bangladesh so far. In these elections, Awami League won 6 times, BNP 4 times and Jatiya Party 2 times and formed the government. Awami League formed the government in the first, seventh, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth parliamentary elections.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh