Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has announced that the schedules for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the upcoming referendum will be revealed in the second week of December.

"We hope to declare the schedule for the national parliamentary election in the second week of December. Once it is announced, the public will know the exact dates," he told reporters on Saturday after inspecting a mock voting exercise organized by the Election Commission (EC) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Girls' High School in Dhaka.

The exercise was attended by four Election Commissioners, the Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat, and European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller.

The CEC emphasised the EC’s commitment to conducting a fair, participatory, and credible election. "The purpose of today's mock voting was to test the promises we have made and to demonstrate what an ideal polling environment should look like," he said.

He explained that the exercise allowed officials to observe every aspect of the voting process, including voter queuing, the roles of presiding and polling officers, and the interaction with journalists. "We wanted to see everything practically through the voting exercise," he added.

Highlighting the importance of transparency, the CEC said, "We aim to deliver an election as transparent as today’s mock voting. Law and order will gradually improve, ensuring a favourable environment for the polls."

Detailing the voting procedure observed during the exercise, he said, "Voters queued, entered the polling station one by one, showed their slips, received ballot papers from the assistant presiding officer, voted in private booths, and cast their ballots. Many are not familiar with this process."

He noted that many first-time voters, especially those registered in the last 15 years, have never voted in person. "This exercise gives them practical experience and allows us to assess the polling environment in real time," he added.

Regarding the referendum, the CEC said, "Conducting the referendum alongside the national election is an additional responsibility, but it must be held. If both are to be conducted together, we must manage time efficiently."

He explained that the EC will evaluate whether the existing 42,500-plus polling centres are sufficient or whether additional centres and booths are required. "New booths mean more staff and logistics. We want to plan based on reality, not assumptions," he said.

Assuring the nation, the CEC added, "The EC is broadly prepared. Inshallah, we will uphold our promise and ensure a fully transparent process, just like today’s mock voting."

On referendum publicity, he said, "Widespread campaigning has not yet started. The government and EC will jointly run extensive campaigns. The ordinance and law authorizing the EC to hold the referendum have just been issued."

He added that the Information and Cultural Ministries have been tasked with supporting the campaign. "The referendum will have only 'Yes' and 'No' options, as agreed by the political parties. We are preparing for the 'Yes-No' vote according to the law," he said.

Addressing journalists, the CEC said, "You also have responsibilities as citizens. We all share the duty to inform and campaign on referendum issues. You will see a massive campaign from our side."

On law and order, he noted, "The situation has improved significantly. We are coordinating continuously with law enforcement, and training is ongoing to ensure an environment conducive to polling."