Agartala, Dec 12: Sixteen months after Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government amid unprecedented political upheaval, the nation now has a clear path back to democratic governance, with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday announcing February 12 as the date for parliamentary elections and a simultaneous national referendum, even as President Mohammed Shahabuddin revealed his intention to resign following the polls after allegedly feeling humiliated by the interim administration.
In an address to the nation on Thursday evening, the Chief Election Commissioner unveiled the complete schedule for the country’s 13th National Parliament election, which will see voting for all 300 parliamentary seats conducted alongside a referendum on implementing the July National Charter. According to the announced schedule, polling will take place from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM without interruption on February 12, with more than 127.6 million voters eligible to cast their ballots.
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According to the Commission, the deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers is December 29, with scrutiny scheduled between December 30 and January 4. Meanwhile, the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy has been set for January 20, followed by publication of the final candidate list on January 21. Moreover, election campaigning will commence on January 22 and conclude on February 10 at 7:30 AM.
The announcement comes as the culmination of extensive political discussions that began after the Awami League government fell on August 5 last year in the face of a student-led mass uprising. According to sources from Bangladesh, following a meeting between the Chief Adviser and BNP Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman in London on June 13, both leaders agreed on holding the national election in the first half of February 2026. However, the Awami League’s registration has been suspended due to a ban on its political activities, making the party ineligible to contest the election.
It is learned that approximately 900,000 members of the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies will be deployed to maintain law and order, representing the highest number to date.
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In a related development, President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin has revealed plans to resign midway through his term following the February parliamentary election. In an interview with Reuters published on Thursday, the 75-year-old President stated that he allegedly felt humiliated by the interim government’s treatment of him.
“I am very keen to resign. I am keen to leave power. Until the election is held, I should continue to discharge my duties. Being constitutionally the President, I am holding my position,” the President said in a WhatsApp interview from his official residence in Dhaka.
The President reportedly disclosed that Dr. Yunus has not met with him for nearly seven months. Moreover, his press department has allegedly been taken away, and his portraits were removed from Bangladeshi embassies worldwide in September.
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“There was a portrait of the President, in all consulates, embassies and high commissions there was a picture of the President. Suddenly overnight these have been removed. I am feeling very humiliated,” President Shahabuddin stated, adding that he wrote to Dr. Yunus about the portraits but reportedly no action was taken.