INEC DELEGATION MONITORS BANGLADESH'S HISTORIC REFERENDUM, PARLIAMENTARY POLLS

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As Bangladesh prepares for a monumental shift in its democratic journey, a high-level delegation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has arrived in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to monitor the 13th Parliamentary Elections and a concurrent National Referendum, scheduled for 12th February 2026.

The formal briefing for national and international observers, as well as journalists, was addressed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the Bangladesh Election Commission, Mr. A M M Nasir Uddin. He was joined by four other Electoral Commissioners: Mr. Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmed, Mr. Md. Anwarul Islam Sarker, and Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah (Rtd.).

During the session, the commission revealed that nearly 128 million voters are expected at the polls to choose from 2,028 candidates representing 50 political parties across 299 constituencies. Voters will also decide on the “July National Charter” referendum, a landmark proposal for constitutional and institutional reform.

The international community has shown immense interest in this contest, with approximately 330 international observers—including 220 from the European Union—and over 160 foreign journalists on the ground. Domestically, the scale is even larger, with 45,000 local observers and 60,000 journalists accredited to cover the proceedings.

To deepen their understanding of the host nation’s legislative history, a cross-section of the international observers was also taken through a guided tour of the Jatiya Sangsad (the National Parliament), an architectural landmark of the country’s democratic governance.

To ensure a peaceful and credible process, the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) has coordinated a massive security operation, deploying 900,000 security agents nationwide. Voting is set to take place in a single-day window, commencing at 7:30 AM and concluding at 4:30 PM.

Representing the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, the Nigerian delegation is led by National Commissioner Prof. Sunday Ajah. The team includes the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau State, Mallam Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, and the CPS/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola.

The INEC team has already commenced pre-election activities, visiting polling stations across Dhaka to observe the final logistical deployments.