The forthcoming general election and the national referendum are expected to be held any day between February 8 and February 12 next year, election commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar said on Tuesday.

The commissioner, speaking to reporters at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka, also said that the election schedule could be announced in a couple of days after the commission meeting, expected to be held on December 7.

‘The parliamentary elections and the referendum will be held any day between 8 February and 12 February. It can be held one or two days after February 8 or one or two days before February 12. In other words, it can be held on a day that falls at some point in the middle,’ Anwarul Islam said.

He said that the commission is set to hold a meeting on December 7 to finalise the election schedule. 

Depending on the outcome, the official announcement of the election schedule can be made within two or three days of the meeting, possibly around December 11, he said.

Anwarul said that the commission was also considering extending voting hours as both the parliamentary election and the referendum would be held on the same day.

He said that voting time might be extended from eight hours to nine hours.

The current voting period, which runs from 8:00am to 4:00pm, could be adjusted by setting the hours between 7:30am and 4:30pm.

European Union ambassador to Dhaka, Michael Miller, met chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday at Nirbachan Bhaban to discuss preparations for the next general election and the referendum.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Miller said that the commission was well prepared to conduct both the parliamentary polls and the referendum on the July charter on the same day.

He appreciated the commission’s advanced planning and careful assessment of logistical challenges.

Miller also reiterated that the EU is preparing to send a large election observer mission to monitor what is expected to be the world’s largest democratic exercise in 2026.

Regarding the overall situation, the EU envoy said preparations appear to be progressing smoothly, though challenges are inevitable in a populous country.

He stressed the need for extensive civic and voter education so that the citizens can understand both the election and the referendum.