The Election Commission (EC) has completed all preparations for the 12th National Assembly elections. Now just waiting for the schedule of the election.

The commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal will meet with the President Sahabuddin and inform about the whole matter on Thursday. After that, the EC has scheduled a meeting with the DC-SPs on November 10 and 11 and the launch of the election management app.

CEC will announce the schedule by addressing the nation through television and radio. Various types of election equipment have already reached the district election offices. Indelible ink and stamp pads will also be shipped by tomorrow. If all goes well, the EC wants to end the voting in the first week of January itself. That is why the EC is now busy preparing the CEC's speech and informal discussions among themselves.

The commission is continuing the election process for several possible dates of the parliamentary elections. According to EC sources, the EC has two types of thoughts about the schedule. It may be modified again to ensure participation of all parties with the first schedule. For this reason, the commission has considered several dates for the polls.

Last week of December i.e. December 28 will be polling date; In this case this date may change again. Also January 2 or 3; January 7 or 8 and January 9 or 11 are also being discussed as possible dates for polling. But everything depends on the official meeting of the commission. A new date may also be fixed in the commission meeting.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) Md Ahsan Habib Khan told Bangladesh Pratidin that preparations are underway to announce the schedule by the second half of November, keeping the polling date in the last week of December or the first week of January.

“Already the counting of 90 days for the 12th Parliament elections has started. All preparatory work from the Election Commission's side is almost at an end. In the meantime, a meeting has been held with the chief and top officials of the law enforcement agencies and the senior secretaries and secretaries of the relevant ministries, the leaders of the departments/organizations have also been held.”

“All have been given necessary instructions for free and fair elections; All have assured us of all kinds of cooperation. The preparation of the EC was briefed on November 4 sitting with the political parties, while the commission heard the suggestions and views of the parties,” he said.

“Doing everything necessary as a constitutional body to organize elections for free, fair, impartial, participatory and acceptable elections; Everyone is always invited to vote. The Commission will endeavor earnestly to ensure a seamless environment for voters,” Ahsan Habib said.

“The parties will be called upon to come to the polls after settling their differences. The Election Commission has always given importance to fulfilling the expectations of the esteemed voters and we are determined to deliver a beautiful election insha Allah,” he added.

Before announcing the schedule, the EC held a dialogue with the registered political parties. Like-minded people including BNP did not join it. Many of the parties that joined also expressed concern about the polling environment. But the CEC, as before, advised the parties to take up the responsibility of solving the problem by discussing among themselves.

At the end of that dialogue on Saturday, Kazi Habibul Awal told the journalists, "The Election Commission has no mandate to solve the conflicting crisis of the political parties. The parties should discuss among themselves and solve the crisis and create a favorable environment. The time limit is fixed in the constitution. We have to choose between them. There is not much space in front, back,”

According to the rules of the constitution, the commission has to finish this election between November 1 and January 29, 2024. The countdown to that time began on November 1. And the commission is determined to organize the election in the prescribed manner (under the party government) and within the prescribed period (within 90 days before the end of the term).

New parties: Two new parties namely BNM and BSP were registered in August. 39 were registered in the last eleventh parliament; Later, 3 (Bangladesh Jasad, Insaniat Biplab, Trinamool BNP) were registered by court orders. Now the number of registered teams is 44; Who can participate in the parliamentary elections with the party symbol.

The Election Commission also released the constituency-wise voter list in November. The total number of voters in the country is now 11 crore 96 lakh 91 thousand 633 people. 6 crore 7 lakh 71 thousand 579 men; 5 crore 89 lakh 19 thousand 202 women and 852 transgenders. The draft polling station list was published on August 16. Claims and objections were settled on September 11. The number of possible polling stations this time is 42 thousand 103. These centers will have 2 lakh 61 thousand 912 polling booths.

What is needed to be a candidate: To be a candidate in the parliamentary elections, nomination papers can be received and submitted directly from the office of the returning officer. In addition, online opportunities will also be kept. If you want to submit the nomination form online, you have to register by entering the relevant link (portal) on the EC website. After completing the registration fill and submit the nomination form by logging into the portal.

The nomination paper must be accompanied by the signature of the Party President/General Secretary or equivalent. 1% of the voters of the constituency of the independent candidate must give a support list. If an independent candidate has previously been elected as a Member of Parliament, the documents must be submitted.

Candidates have to give 20 thousand taka as security, eight informative documents with stamp of 300 taka in affidavit. Source of income, assets, liabilities, income and expenditure statement should also be given. Income tax return documents should be provided along with it. A party candidate of a registered party will need party nomination. The election expenditure limit of the candidates for this election is 25 lakhs. Expenditure in this sector cannot be made from any account other than the designated account of the candidate or his agent.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 8 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)