Wednesday, 27 August, 2025
Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC), Akhtar Ahmed has said the Commission will unveil its action plan, or “election roadmap,” for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections within this week.
Speaking to reporters Sunday at the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, he confirmed that a draft of the roadmap has already been prepared and will be placed before the Commission for final approval.
“The plan focuses on inter-departmental coordination and operational issues necessary for holding a fair and transparent election. We hope to finalise and publish it within the week,” he stated.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of the July movement, which reshaped the country’s political landscape and forced a series of electoral reforms. Analysts believe the roadmap will be crucial in addressing questions of public trust, particularly following widespread demands for a credible electoral process after the fall of the previous regime.
On the issue of security, Ahmed said there is no immediate cause for concern. “Law enforcement agencies and administrative officials are already active in their respective areas. If everyone does their part responsibly, there won’t be any problem,” he assured.
Turning to voter list and NID corrections, the EC secretary reported that around 80,000 appeals for correction have been submitted so far, though the number is gradually declining as the database improves. He noted that enhanced data entry protocols are being put in place to prevent recurring errors.
Regarding polling stations, Ahmed indicated that the overall number will remain unchanged, although adjustments could be made in line with local needs. “We are exploring options like increasing the number of voters per booth from 500 to 600 to ensure better efficiency,” he added.
The Commission is also prioritising digitisation of older records. Plans are underway to scan and upload unscanned Form-2 voter registration documents dating back to 2008 in order to strengthen the EC’s digital archive.
On constituency delimitation, Ahmed informed that objections had been raised over 83 seats. Hearings on these objections are scheduled to begin on 24 August and will run for four days.
He further stated that field verification is ongoing for 22 political parties seeking registration with the EC. Applicants found ineligible are being notified formally with detailed explanations for their disqualification.
Ahmed underscored the importance of timely preparation. “If all concerned complete their responsibilities early, coordination of the polling process will become smoother,” he said.
The EC’s roadmap is expected to address several critical issues raised during the reform process, including mechanisms to ensure level playing fields for political parties, stricter monitoring of campaign financing, and transparent handling of voter rolls. Observers note that the Commission will face intense scrutiny, as this will be the first national election since the July movement, when public pressure forced the authorities to commit to restoring electoral credibility.
Political analysts suggest that the roadmap will serve as a test of whether the EC can demonstrate its independence and meet the expectations of voters eager for a free and participatory election after years of controversy surrounding the electoral process.
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Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC), Akhtar Ahmed has said the Commission will unveil its action plan, or “election roadmap,” for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections within this week.
Speaking to reporters Sunday at the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, he confirmed that a draft of the roadmap has already been prepared and will be placed before the Commission for final approval.
“The plan focuses on inter-departmental coordination and operational issues necessary for holding a fair and transparent election. We hope to finalise and publish it within the week,” he stated.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of the July movement, which reshaped the country’s political landscape and forced a series of electoral reforms. Analysts believe the roadmap will be crucial in addressing questions of public trust, particularly following widespread demands for a credible electoral process after the fall of the previous regime.
On the issue of security, Ahmed said there is no immediate cause for concern. “Law enforcement agencies and administrative officials are already active in their respective areas. If everyone does their part responsibly, there won’t be any problem,” he assured.
Turning to voter list and NID corrections, the EC secretary reported that around 80,000 appeals for correction have been submitted so far, though the number is gradually declining as the database improves. He noted that enhanced data entry protocols are being put in place to prevent recurring errors.
Regarding polling stations, Ahmed indicated that the overall number will remain unchanged, although adjustments could be made in line with local needs. “We are exploring options like increasing the number of voters per booth from 500 to 600 to ensure better efficiency,” he added.
The Commission is also prioritising digitisation of older records. Plans are underway to scan and upload unscanned Form-2 voter registration documents dating back to 2008 in order to strengthen the EC’s digital archive.
On constituency delimitation, Ahmed informed that objections had been raised over 83 seats. Hearings on these objections are scheduled to begin on 24 August and will run for four days.
He further stated that field verification is ongoing for 22 political parties seeking registration with the EC. Applicants found ineligible are being notified formally with detailed explanations for their disqualification.
Ahmed underscored the importance of timely preparation. “If all concerned complete their responsibilities early, coordination of the polling process will become smoother,” he said.
The EC’s roadmap is expected to address several critical issues raised during the reform process, including mechanisms to ensure level playing fields for political parties, stricter monitoring of campaign financing, and transparent handling of voter rolls. Observers note that the Commission will face intense scrutiny, as this will be the first national election since the July movement, when public pressure forced the authorities to commit to restoring electoral credibility.
Political analysts suggest that the roadmap will serve as a test of whether the EC can demonstrate its independence and meet the expectations of voters eager for a free and participatory election after years of controversy surrounding the electoral process.
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