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Tarique Rahman Applies for Travel Pass to Return Home

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Tarique Rahman Applies for Travel Pass to Return Home BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has applied for a travel pass to return to Bangladesh on 25 December , sources have confirmed. The application was submitted to the Bangladesh High Commission in London , according to a source in the United Kingdom, who confirmed the matter to Prothom Alo on Thursday evening. Living in exile in London for political reasons, Tarique Rahman has been without a valid Bangladeshi passport after it expired. Although he had the opportunity to renew his passport following the fall of the Awami League government during last year’s uprising, he did not do so. Under the current circumstances, he will therefore return to Bangladesh using a one-time travel pass , which allows a single entry into the country for Bangladeshi citizens without valid passports. Last month in Dhaka, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain told journalists that there were no restrictions on Tarique Rahman’s return. He explained that a tra...
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CEC Announces Election Schedule: National Polls on 12 February

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 CEC Announces Election Schedule: National Polls on 12 February

The 13th national parliamentary election will be held on 12 February 2026, alongside a referendum on implementing the July National Charter. Voting will take place continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced the schedule in a televised address on Thursday evening.

Key Deadlines

  • Submission of nomination papers: until 29 December

  • Scrutiny of nominations: 30 December–4 January

  • Appeals against returning officers’ decisions: must be filed by 11 January; to be resolved 12–18 January

  • Withdrawal of candidacy: 20 January

  • Allocation of symbols: 21 January

  • Campaign period: 22 January–10 February, 7:30 a.m.

  • Voting: 12 February, in all 300 constituencies

More than 127.6 million voters are eligible to vote. Expatriate Bangladeshis may also cast ballots via postal voting, with over 300,000 registered so far.

Political Context

Following a student–public uprising, the Awami League government fell on 5 August last year, and an interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus was formed on 8 August. Sixteen months later, the Election Commission is announcing the national poll schedule.

Initially, several parties—including the BNP—demanded that the election be held by December last year. On 6 June, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus announced that the polls would be held in April 2026. Later, on 13 June, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman met Yunus in London, where both sides agreed to hold the election in the first half of February 2026. Since then, the government has consistently stated this timeline, and the Election Commission has prepared accordingly.

On 13 November, the chief adviser confirmed that the referendum and national election would take place on the same day in early February. Today’s announcement by the CEC finalizes the dates.

Parties Eligible to Contest

Only parties registered with the Election Commission may contest under party symbols. Currently, 56 parties are registered. However, the Awami League’s registration has been suspended, and a suspended party cannot take part in the election. All other registered parties are eligible.

Individuals meeting legal requirements may also run as independent candidates.

Election Security and Logistics

After the fall of the Awami League government, a new Election Commission led by AMM Nasir Uddin was formed on 21 November last year. This will be its first national election—and the first time the national polls and referendum will be held on the same day, a challenge acknowledged by the Commission.

To manage time effectively, polling hours have been extended by one hour, and the number of secret voting booths will be increased.

Law and order during the election period is considered a major challenge. The government has stated that all relevant forces, including the armed forces, will work to ensure a secure environment once the schedule is announced.

Nearly 900,000 members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies—the highest number ever—will be deployed. Additionally, a record 150,000 police personnel have already received election training to help ensure fair polling.

 

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