Tuesday, 10 February, 2026
After 19 days of rallies, manifestos and fervent campaigning, Bangladesh’s electoral marathon is drawing to a tense close. With just 48 hours remaining before voters head to the polls on Thursday, political fervour has reached fever pitch, marking the final stretch of a high-stakes contest that will define the nation’s democratic future.
The official campaign, which began on 22 January following the allocation of election symbols, ended Tuesday morning at 7:30, as mandated under the parliamentary election code of conduct for political parties and candidates, 2025. Under these rules, no party, candidate or their affiliates may carry out electioneering for three weeks prior to polling day, and campaigning must cease 48 hours before the vote begins.
Voting will commence at 7:30 am on Thursday and continue uninterrupted until 4:30 pm, with 127,298,522 eligible voters spread across 299 constituencies participating in the 13th parliamentary election and simultaneous national referendum. One constituency, Sherpur-3, remains excluded following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. Transparent ballot boxes and paper ballots will be used nationwide.
In a bid to preserve order, the Election Commission has imposed strict vehicular and maritime restrictions. Motorcycles are banned from midnight on 10 February until midnight on 13 February, with four categories of vehicles—trucks, microbuses, taxi-cabs and motorcycles—prohibited for 24 hours on polling day. Vessel movement is also suspended, while candidates and their supporters are barred from establishing election camps or campaigns within 400 yards of any polling station. Bringing voters to the polls by vehicle is strictly forbidden.
The scale of law enforcement deployment is unprecedented. Nearly one million security personnel—including army, navy, air force, BGB, police, Rab, coast guard, Ansar and VDP members—have been deployed from 8 February to secure the elections. Executive magistrates and mobile task forces are positioned at district, upazila, thana and coastal levels to enforce the electoral code, prevent violence and ensure uninterrupted voting. In vulnerable polling stations, up to 18 security personnel will maintain vigilance, while normal stations will host 16 officers each.
For the first time, Bangladesh is implementing an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system for expatriates, government employees outside their constituencies, polling officials, and those under legal custody. Over one million voters have already cast ballots through this system. As of Monday evening, 1,031,269 votes had been submitted, including 511,757 from overseas Bangladeshis. The programme covers 1,528,131 registered postal voters in total.
Nearly 50,000 domestic observers from 80 registered organisations, along with close to 500 international monitors, are expected to oversee polling. Their presence underscores the intensity of scrutiny surrounding an election viewed as pivotal for Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory.
With political tension at its height, strict restrictions in place, and security forces mobilised on an unprecedented scale, the nation approaches a historic moment. Every measure—from bans on vehicles and campaigning to the hybrid postal voting system—aims to ensure that Thursday’s election proceeds smoothly, despite the charged atmosphere.
The outcome will not only decide the composition of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad but also test Bangladesh’s capacity to hold free, fair and peaceful elections amid rising political tension and high public expectations.
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After 19 days of rallies, manifestos and fervent campaigning, Bangladesh’s electoral marathon is drawing to a tense close. With just 48 hours remaining before voters head to the polls on Thursday, political fervour has reached fever pitch, marking the final stretch of a high-stakes contest that will define the nation’s democratic future.
The official campaign, which began on 22 January following the allocation of election symbols, ended Tuesday morning at 7:30, as mandated under the parliamentary election code of conduct for political parties and candidates, 2025. Under these rules, no party, candidate or their affiliates may carry out electioneering for three weeks prior to polling day, and campaigning must cease 48 hours before the vote begins.
Voting will commence at 7:30 am on Thursday and continue uninterrupted until 4:30 pm, with 127,298,522 eligible voters spread across 299 constituencies participating in the 13th parliamentary election and simultaneous national referendum. One constituency, Sherpur-3, remains excluded following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. Transparent ballot boxes and paper ballots will be used nationwide.
In a bid to preserve order, the Election Commission has imposed strict vehicular and maritime restrictions. Motorcycles are banned from midnight on 10 February until midnight on 13 February, with four categories of vehicles—trucks, microbuses, taxi-cabs and motorcycles—prohibited for 24 hours on polling day. Vessel movement is also suspended, while candidates and their supporters are barred from establishing election camps or campaigns within 400 yards of any polling station. Bringing voters to the polls by vehicle is strictly forbidden.
The scale of law enforcement deployment is unprecedented. Nearly one million security personnel—including army, navy, air force, BGB, police, Rab, coast guard, Ansar and VDP members—have been deployed from 8 February to secure the elections. Executive magistrates and mobile task forces are positioned at district, upazila, thana and coastal levels to enforce the electoral code, prevent violence and ensure uninterrupted voting. In vulnerable polling stations, up to 18 security personnel will maintain vigilance, while normal stations will host 16 officers each.
For the first time, Bangladesh is implementing an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system for expatriates, government employees outside their constituencies, polling officials, and those under legal custody. Over one million voters have already cast ballots through this system. As of Monday evening, 1,031,269 votes had been submitted, including 511,757 from overseas Bangladeshis. The programme covers 1,528,131 registered postal voters in total.
Nearly 50,000 domestic observers from 80 registered organisations, along with close to 500 international monitors, are expected to oversee polling. Their presence underscores the intensity of scrutiny surrounding an election viewed as pivotal for Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory.
With political tension at its height, strict restrictions in place, and security forces mobilised on an unprecedented scale, the nation approaches a historic moment. Every measure—from bans on vehicles and campaigning to the hybrid postal voting system—aims to ensure that Thursday’s election proceeds smoothly, despite the charged atmosphere.
The outcome will not only decide the composition of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad but also test Bangladesh’s capacity to hold free, fair and peaceful elections amid rising political tension and high public expectations.
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