Published: 08:14 AM, 26 November 2025 Last Update: 08:57 AM, 26 November 2025
EC to hold mock voting exercise ON Saturday
CEC for impartiality from election observers
The Election Commission is going to conduct a mock voting exercise on Saturday next for both the upcoming national election and referendum, which are likely to be held simultaneously on a single day in early February 2026.
"The mock voting will be held from 8:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls High School in the capital," said EC Director (PR) Ruhul Amin Mollik on Tuesday.
All the officers and employees of the EC Secretariat, the EC's National Identity Registration Wing, the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) and its all projects have been asked to be present in the mock voting centre and participate in the mock voting activities as voters.
The Election Commission has planned to announce the schedule in early December to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter simultaneously in a single day in February 2026.
According to the EC officials, the Commission will assess how many votes can be cast in an hour using two types of ballots - one for national election and another for referendum-in order to determine the number of voters against each polling booth in the February 2026 election. Besides, the EC will try to identify the possible challenges that may emerge during the vote-casting in the upcoming election.
The current Election Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, was constituted just one year ago and had no experience of holding a single local body or parliamentary election.
Besides, this commission will have to hold a referendum simultaneously with the national election, which came as an additional responsibility to the current commission amid the changed situation after the 2024 student-led mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina's regime. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin urged all election observers to maintain transparency and impartiality in performing their duties for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections.
"Those of you working at the field level must remain fully impartial and ensure that anyone operating under your direction understands that the Election Commission has only one objective to deliver a fair and credible election to the nation. It is our collective national responsibility to uphold the highest standards of neutrality and we will carry out that duty with integrity." He told a dialogue with
representatives from 40 observation organizations on Tuesday at the Election Commission Bhaban at Agargaon.
"The Commission will operate its own official supervisory system during this election. We also want to view this election through your eyes. Those working at the field level must inform us whether the process is being conducted transparently and whether the election code of conduct and relevant laws are being properly followed. The individuals you appoint must not influence any party's campaign-you must ensure this. Remember, their duty is to observe, not to interfere in the electoral process," AMM Nasir Uddin.
He said they are pledged to the nation that we will hold a fair, credible and well-conducted election-something the Election Commission cannot achieve alone. "This is a national responsibility that we must all carry together. We intend to learn from the past and continue to move forward," he added.
Highlighting that observers will play a role at every stage of the election, the CEC said, "You will report to us on how the campaign is progressing, how the polling centers are being managed, how presiding officers and police are performing their duties and whether voters are facing any obstruction. This report must be completely truthful that is your responsibility because much depends on the accuracy of your observations," he said.
He also said, "If you find any shortcomings in the commission's management anything that should be improved, you should recommend it to us. Your recommendations will guide our future actions. Our goal is to conduct the election with full transparency and in an environment that is friendly and accessible for voters."
Any recommendations for improving election management would help shape the future reforms as the commission aims to hold a transparent and voter-friendly election, he added.
Election Commissioners Brig Gen (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmed, Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and other senior officials attended the dialogue.
