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DHAKA, Dec 7, 2025 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has decided to increase the voting time for the 13th national election and referendum by one hour, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said today.

He revealed the information while talking to reporters after the 10th commission meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban in city’s Agargaon area.

Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, the meeting was attended by four election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Saker and Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah – and senior officials of the EC Secretariat.

Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the commission has decided to increase the voting time by one hour - half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon. 

So, he said, the voting will start at 7:30 am and will continue till 4:30 pm on the polls day.

Earlier, the voting was held for eight hours beginning 8 am to 4 pm in the parliamentary elections.  This time, the voting will be held for 9 hours.

Sanaullah said the commission discussed the activities of election observers and journalists in the commission meeting so they can perform their duties without facing any hindrance. A circular will be issued regarding the necessary assistance, he said.

Regarding law and order activities, the commissioner said the EC will hold a zoom meeting with the district-level administration officials, including the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police, on the day of announcement of the polls schedule.

Later, after the list of candidates is finalised, an in-person meeting will be held, he added.

Sanaullah said officers are appointed on area basis to collect election information, while usually, a committee of 10 members is formed. 

“We have increased this committee to 14 members. There will be an additional secretary led by DG, NID and he will be reinforced by one from our election training institute, one from law wing and one from election management wing. Along with this, 10 more members will be area-based,” he said.

The inquiry committees will work in 300 seats and the committees will not only inquire, but those can also conduct trials if want, he said. 

In addition, the commissioner said, the judicial magistrates and executive magistrates, who will be there, will be able to do their work.

He said the EC has decided to appoint executive magistrates to ensure compliance with the code of conduct, while initially, two magistrates will work in each upazila or police station from the day after the announcement of the election schedule. 

They will work on the election day and three days before and after the polls day, he added.

Sanaullah said all types of campaign materials that political parties have already made and hung must be removed within 48 hours of the announcement of polls schedule, otherwise proper action will be taken under the electoral code of conduct.

About postal voting, Sanaullah said there has been a long discussion on the management of postal ballots. 

“We have two types of postal ballots…we are starting the work of printing the ballots, which will go outside the country, from tomorrow. The work of sending those abroad will start from the day after tomorrow. And we will start the registration of the postal ballots, which are inside the country, from the day the schedule is announced and will continue for 15 days. That means, those who want to vote through postal ballots from within the country, can register for a total of 15 days starting from the day after the schedule is announced. Once this registration is completed, they will go to in-country postal voting,” he said.

He said the EC wants to effectively implement in-country postal voting and it will be the responsibility of different institutions to encourage voters to vote.