Political activities around the upcoming national election got momentum on Monday as discussions on a level-playing field, election preparations and the schedule announcement dominated the country’s political landscape. 

The Election Commission (EC) and various political parties have ramped up preparations, highlighting both progress and ongoing concerns over ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

EC Members’ Meeting with President 

Members of the Election Commission will meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on December 10 at 12:30 pm, said the President’s Office. 

The Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, will hold discussions on election preparations and related matters.

Ahead of the meeting, the EC sent letters to Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar requesting arrangements to record the Chief Election Commissioner’s (CEC) address on the same day. 

EC Senior Secretary Akther Ahmed said the letters requested recording arrangements, but the broadcast timing has not yet been confirmed. Traditionally, the EC announces the election schedule via a national address aired on BTV or Bangladesh Betar, with recording and declaration often occurring on the same day.

“The election schedule will be announced any day this week,” Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah told reporters on Sunday. “By this week, we mean the second week of December, from December 8 to 15.”

The 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Reform Charter) will be held simultaneously on a single day in early February 2026. White ballot papers will be used for the national election, while pink papers will be used for the referendum. Around 12.76 crore voters are registered to cast their votes across 42,761 polling stations in 300 constituencies nationwide.

Jamaat raises concerns over level-playing field

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar expressed concerns that a level-playing field has not yet been ensured. 

Talking to reporters after a meeting with the EC on Monday, he said, “They could not confirm yet about the level-playing field of the elections. We’ve raised specific evidence regarding the administrative situation before the EC. If this situation continues, we will not accept it as a level-playing field.”

A six-member Jamaat delegation, led by Parwar, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and the four other election commissioners at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka. 

The delegation requested the EC take concrete steps to ensure equal opportunity for all parties during the elections.

Parwar suggested that the EC consider reshuffling the administration if necessary to maintain neutrality, strengthen ongoing drives to recover illegal arms, install CCTV cameras at polling stations, deploy Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Army personnel for security, and simplify voter registration for expatriates.

“We told them that if we see any official blatantly violating impartiality after the announcement of the schedule, we will bring it to their notice,” Parwar said. 

Regarding the recovery of illegal arms looted from police stations across the country after August 05, 2024, he said, “We have suggested strengthening the ongoing drive to ensure that illegal arms cannot disrupt the election or create panic among voters. Time for schedule announcement is running out. We raised the issue to know the Election Commission’s clear announcement and specific decision in this regard.”

The EC assured the delegation that the election schedule would be announced this week. 

Asked whether they foresee any possibility of a delay, Parwar said, “We currently have no such apprehension. They have given us their word, and we trust that they will adhere to it.”

The other members of the Jamaat delegation were ATM Masum, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Matiur Rahman Akanda, Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, and Jashim Uddin Sarker.

BNP Against ‘Religion Card’ 

BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed criticised parties attempting to exploit religion for political gain. Speaking at the inauguration of the second day of BNP’s ‘Plan to Build the Country’ programme on Monday, he said, “The people of the country have already unmasked those who have no political principles or development plan but are still trying to deceive the nation by selling a ‘religion card’.”

Salahuddin emphasised that anyone attempting to obstruct democratic transition or voting rights through manipulation will be rejected by the public. “Those who want to enter Jannah (heaven) without any effort should first find out where its bus station is. People understand these things.” 

He added that BNP is preparing plans for governance if elected to power, stressing, “If you don’t plan, you are planning to fail. We are preparing a roadmap for modern, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh.”

Salahuddin indirectly criticised Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, saying, “Some party leaders claim that anyone voting for their symbol will easily reach paradise. But what about survival in this worldly life? They have no guidance on that. Just a few days ago, they even recruited a Hindu friend in Khulna.”

He highlighted BNP’s legacy of transformative national programmes under late President Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, including literacy campaigns and the Food-for-Education programme. 

“First comes policy, then programming, project implementation, and monitoring. This is how a state is run, not by making false promises about Heaven,” he said.

Salahuddin also stressed that BNP’s 31-point outline provides a realistic vision for good governance, democracy, and development. 

He urged party activists to communicate policies simply and clearly to the public, highlighting initiatives such as the Family Card for women and the Farmer Card for peasants aimed at social security, economic empowerment, and welfare improvement.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said party activists, particularly Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) members, would receive training on eight subjects to explain BNP’s plans, election manifesto, and promises to the public ahead of the polls. 

Home Adviser on Election Preparations 

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said all necessary preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections have been taken. 

Talking to reporters after the 17th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on law and order, held at the Secretariat on Monday, he said, “All necessary preparations, including training law enforcement agencies, purchase of body-worn cameras, and ensuring electricity at polling stations, have been completed.”

He added that training for law enforcement personnel is essential for effective execution and that programmes will continue until January. Voting hours will be extended from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, and arrangements are being made to ensure uninterrupted electricity during counting, even after sunset.

Responding to a question regarding the killing of a police officer’s parents in Rangpur, the Home Adviser said instructions had been issued to arrest the perpetrators promptly. Regarding the recovery of looted firearms, he said, “The process is underway.”

When asked about ensuring a level-playing field for the election, the adviser reaffirmed, “The government is committed to a free and fair election.”