DHAKA, August 4, (V7N) – The Election Commission (EC) is making all necessary preparations for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, and the schedule will be disclosed as soon as a decision is reached, according to EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
Speaking to journalists at the Election Building in Agargaon today, Ahmed stated that the announcement of the election schedule will be made solely at the discretion of the Commission. "All our activities are centered around the national election. Preparations are progressing according to the timeline provided by the Chief Adviser," he said.

As part of the voter list update process, a draft list of approximately 4.45 million excluded voters will be published on August 10, and the names of deceased voters will also be removed. After addressing any claims and objections, the final voter list is slated for publication by August 31. Ahmed noted that a supplementary list will also be published one month before the election, in line with revised laws.
Regarding political party registration, Ahmed reported that 145 parties have applied. Of these, 80 have submitted documents to rectify deficiencies, six have requested more time, and 59 have not responded. These matters will be forwarded to the Commission for a final decision. On the subject of audit reports, he said that 30 out of 51 registered parties have submitted their reports, 15 have sought an extension, and five have not submitted any report. The Commission will decide on the appropriate action.

Concerning constituency demarcation, a draft boundary for 300 constituencies has been published, and claims and objections will be accepted until August 10. Following hearings, the final boundaries will be determined within August. For observer organizations and foreign observers, applications will be accepted until August 10. Ahmed also mentioned that a seven-member pre-election observer team from the European Union (EU), consisting of three foreigners and four locals, is expected to arrive in mid-September.

Ahmed highlighted several legal and regulatory reforms already undertaken, including amendments to the demarcation law, voter list regulations, polling center policies, and guidelines for local and foreign observers and the media. He added that efforts are being made to include provisions in the code of conduct to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence. The senior secretary confirmed that the election manual will be finalized shortly, polling officials will be trained in phases, and all election materials will be procured by September 30. He also mentioned that a project worth approximately TK 48 crore is in the approval process to facilitate voting for expatriate citizens via postal ballots.