Bangladesh on Thursday declared that its 13th National Parliamentary Election will be held on February 12, 2026, marking the country’s first major electoral exercise since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.

The announcement was made by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Naseeruddin during a televised address to the nation. He said Bangladesh is prepared to prove to the international community that it can conduct an election that is transparent, peaceful and genuinely democratic.

Calling misinformation the “biggest hurdle” ahead of the vote, the CEC appealed to citizens to resist fake news and refrain from spreading unverified claims. He also confirmed that the national election and the July Charter referendum will take place on the same day. All 300 parliamentary constituencies will vote, and Bangladeshis living abroad can begin applying online from tomorrow, with the window open until December 25.

As per the timeline issued:

• December 29, 2025 (Monday): Last day to file nomination papers

• December 30, 2025 – January 4, 2026: Scrutiny of nominations

• January 11, 2026: Deadline to appeal returning officers’ decisions

• January 12–18, 2026: Election Commission will hear and settle appeals

• January 20, 2026: Final date for candidates to withdraw nominations

CEC Naseeruddin stressed that the Commission intends to uphold fairness at every stage and restore public confidence in the electoral system. With this announcement, Bangladesh has formally begun its long-anticipated journey back to democratic normalcy.