Election Commission Sets February 13 for Announcement of National Election Results

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the nationwide referendum will be declared on Friday, February 13, a day after polling takes place.

Voting for both the parliamentary election and the referendum is scheduled for Thursday, February 12. With campaigning entering its final phase, questions had emerged over how long the counting process might take. Addressing these concerns, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar said the Commission has no plan to delay the announcement of results beyond the following day.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, February 8, at the EC headquarters during a briefing on election preparedness and the overall situation, Sarkar rejected claims that the results could take up to three days to be released. He said the Commission is confident that outcomes will be announced promptly and described the current electoral environment as more peaceful and orderly than in previous elections.
 

Responding to questions about whether holding the parliamentary election and the referendum simultaneously could slow down the process, he said modern automation and the use of multiple technological devices would allow for faster data transmission and compilation. He acknowledged that results from some remote polling centres could take slightly longer to reach headquarters but stressed that this would not affect the overall timeline.

According to the EC, multiple monitoring teams will be deployed in every constituency, providing updates to a central monitoring cell at two-hour intervals. Polling centres with electricity connections will be brought under CCTV surveillance, while security personnel have been instructed to use body-worn cameras to enhance transparency and accountability.

The Commission has also formed a special fact-finding cell to address misinformation and counter rumours circulating on social media during the election period.

On the issue of law and order, Sarkar said the situation has improved compared to previous elections. He added that all security forces will operate in close coordination under the supervision of returning officers and the direct oversight of the Election Commission. An estimated 1.1 to 1.2 million members from various law enforcement and security agencies will be deployed nationwide to ensure a secure and credible voting process.