The ballot is moving towards the centre.

Ballot papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the accompanying referendum have begun arriving at polling centres across the country. According to the Election Commission, by late Wednesday night, all necessary election materials—including ballot papers and boxes—will have reached centres outside Dhaka. In major cities, including the capital, the equipment is expected to arrive by this evening.

Polling is scheduled to take place tomorrow, 12 February, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., allowing voters across the nation to cast their ballots.

In this election, voters will use two separate ballot papers. A white ballot will be used to elect members of parliament, while a pink ballot will be used for the referendum. This dual-ballot system is designed to streamline the voting process while ensuring clarity and security for each type of vote.

The Election Commission has confirmed that a total of 958,000 personnel from law enforcement and security forces have been deployed nationwide to ensure a smooth and safe election. Yesterday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam provided details of the security arrangements, explaining that safety measures have been implemented at three levels:

Fixed polling centres

Mobile units

Striking forces

The IGP emphasised that the security arrangements are robust enough to prevent any disruption to the electoral process. He acknowledged that while isolated crimes such as robbery or even violent incidents could occur, these will not interfere with the election itself.

In addition, the Election Commission has classified polling centres across the country based on security risk. Of the total centres, 8,770 have been identified as highly vulnerable, while 16,000 centres fall into the medium-risk category. Authorities have intensified monitoring and deployed additional security personnel to these locations to ensure a safe voting environment.

Summary of Polling Centres by Risk Level

Voters are urged to arrive at their assigned polling stations early and to follow instructions provided by election officials. With security forces in place and preparations nearing completion, authorities express confidence in conducting a safe and orderly election.

As Bangladesh prepares for this pivotal democratic exercise, attention is now focused on ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise their franchise freely and securely.