CEC Vows Polls Will Be Free From 'Stage-Managed' Practices

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin stated on Thursday that the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election 2026 and the Referendum, scheduled for February 12, will be free from the 'stage-managed' practices of the past, promising a level playing field for all contestants. 

"Unlike before, there will be no staged election this time….. A level playing field will be ensured for everyone," he said.

He further said that the Election Commission (EC) believes in justice and fairness."Everyone would get justice (fair treatment)," said the CEC.

During an inspection of the 10 appeal booths established at the EC premises in the capital's Agargaon area, the CEC emphasized that the commission is committed to justice and fair treatment for every aspirant. 

These booths were set up to handle appeals from candidates whose nomination papers were rejected by returning officers during the initial scrutiny phase.

According to the latest data, approximately 300 appeal petitions were filed within the first three days of the process. The deadline for submitting these appeals is Friday (January 9) after which the Commission will hold hearings and dispose of the petitions between January 10 and January 18. 

This follows a rigorous scrutiny period from December 30 to January 4, during which returning officers validated 1,842 nomination papers and rejected 723 others across the country’s 300 constituencies.

According to the official timeline, the deadline for candidates to withdraw their names is January 20. 

Official election campaigning is set to commence on January 22 and will run until 48 hours before the polls open on February 10 at 7:30 am, marking a critical transition period in the nation's democratic process.