2,582 Candidates File Nominations as Deadline Ends

The race for the 13th Parliamentary Elections has officially begun as the deadline for submitting nomination papers expired at 5:00 PM today, December 29. According to the Election Commission (EC), a total of 2,582 nomination papers were filed across the country’s 300 constituencies.

The EC’s Central Coordination Committee reported that while 3,407 aspirants had initially collected nomination forms, nearly 25% of them opted not to submit their papers.

Lower Turnout Compared to Previous Polls Interestingly, the number of candidates for the 2025 election is lower than in recent years. Historical data shows: • 2025 Elections: 2,582 nominations. • 2024 Elections: 2,713 nominations. • 2018 Elections: 3,095 nominations.

Regional Breakdown: Dhaka Leads the Pack The Dhaka region recorded the highest level of political activity, with 444 submissions out of 638 forms collected across 41 constituencies.

The Road to February 12 Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has set a dual-purpose election day for February 12, 2026. Citizens will vote for their parliamentary representatives while simultaneously participating in a referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order.

Upcoming Critical Dates: • Scrutiny of Nominations: December 30 – January 4 • Candidature Withdrawal Deadline: January 20 • Official Campaign Start: January 22 • Election Day: February 12 (Polling starts at 7:30 AM) To oversee the process, the EC has appointed 69 Returning Officers, including divisional commissioners, regional election officers, and district deputy commissioners, ensuring a decentralized management of the polls.