Staff Correspondent:

The Election Commission has extended voting hours by one hour for the 13th national parliamentary election. Polling will now begin at 7:30am and continue until 4:30pm.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah shared the information on Sunday after a review meeting on the election schedule, referendums and various pre-and post-poll matters.

In previous national elections, polling began at 8am and continued until 4pm, after which vote counting started.

Sanaullah said the schedule will be announced within the current week, between 8 and 15 December. On Monday, a letter will be sent to Bangladesh Television to record the schedule announcement.

He said a field-level meeting will be held in the evening on the day the schedule is announced. From the day of the announcement, two magistrates will be deployed in every upazila to enforce the code of conduct, with numbers being increased five days before the vote.

The commissioner said ballot papers will reach polling centres on the night before the election.

Regarding the appointment of polling officials – presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers – he said government, semi-government and government bank officials will be engaged. The Election Commission has decided not to appoint officials from private banks at this stage.

He said election day will be a public holiday, while banks and post offices will remain open as required by the Election Commission.

After the schedule is announced, the Advisory Council will not be allowed to approve any new projects, and none of its members may contest the election while holding office. Only those permitted under law may participate.

On election posters, he said candidates will be given 48 hours after the schedule is announced to remove posters, failing which strict measures will be taken. Sanaullah also said ballot printing for expatriate voters will begin on Monday.