DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin said the date for the country’s upcoming general election has not yet been finalised, amid political uncertainty and growing concerns over law and order in the run-up to the vote.
Speaking in Dhaka this week, Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission has not received any formal communication from the interim government regarding the polling date, though indications suggest the election may be held either before the holy month of Ramadan in early February or during the first half of April.
“It’s very difficult for me to respond because I myself don’t know the exact date,” he said, adding that the Commission is operating under assumptions based on public statements made by senior officials of the caretaker government.
Preparations for the election had initially been based on a December-to-June timeline, with the Commission targeting December as a potential window, Uddin said. “From day one, we started preparing ourselves with December in mind,” he added. The uncertainty over the election date has heightened tensions in the country’s political landscape, especially following the ousting of the Awami League government earlier this year. Questions remain over whether the party will be allowed to participate in the election, and recent decisions by the Commission—such as the denial of the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol to the newly formed National Consensus Party (NCP)—have also drawn scrutiny.
Despite the lack of clarity, the Election Commission has continued its preparatory work, while security forces have reportedly been instructed to remain on alert ahead of the polls. The upcoming vote is expected to be a critical juncture for Bangladesh, which is navigating a period of political transition and public anxiety following months of unrest and economic pressure.