Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh’s long-awaited 13th parliamentary election is likely to be announced in the first week of December, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus instructing authorities to complete all preparations by November 15, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Wednesday.
Speaking after a high-level meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna, Shafiqul said Prof Yunus had directed officials to ensure a free, fair and secure election, warning that “many evil forces from within and beyond our borders will attempt to sabotage it.” “This election will be challenging – but we must overcome whatever storms come,” Yunus told the meeting.
Field-level postings will begin from November 1, with strict guidelines to prevent conflict of interest. “No one will be posted in their own district or where close relatives live,” Shafiqul said. Officials involved in the past three national polls will also be excluded from key roles.
The meeting identified four priorities— social media oversight, field administration, training, and security. Two national committees will be formed to counter fake news and disinformation, with support from the ICT and Culture ministries, and talks are planned with Facebook to monitor online content. Training for election and security officials will be enhanced, including the use of body cameras and televised voter awareness programs.
To maintain law and order, the government will deploy 92,000 armed forces personnel, including one company per district. Security forces have been instructed to remain on high alert during the 72 hours before and after polling. “We have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” Yunus said, urging all agencies to stay vigilant.
Shafiqul said the Election Commission is expected to announce the official polling date in early December, calling it a “historic step toward one of the most transparent elections in Bangladesh’s history.”