The Election Commission (EC) has finalised the draft action plan for the 13th national election and will publish the complete roadmap this week, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Monday, August 18.
Speaking to reporters at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, he also confirmed that public hearings on the proposed delimitation of 82 constituencies will commence on August 24 and run until August 27.
Regarding the action plan, the senior secretary stated that the number of polling centres will remain unchanged. "Each polling centre will serve 3,000 voters," he said. "Additionally, whereas previously 500 voters were assigned to a single polling booth, this number will now increase to 600."
He added that official letters have been sent to field offices to verify the activities of 22 political parties that have applied for registration with the Commission.
Meanwhile, an EC notification issued today (18 August) confirmed that hearings on public objections and suggestions concerning the re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies for the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections will begin on August 24.
The hearings will be held at the Commission’s headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, from August 24 to 27.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin will preside over the sessions, with the four election commissioners and the EC secretary also in attendance.
"The Election Commission will address all objections and suggestions received regarding the delimitation of area-based constituencies through a public hearing process," the notice stated.
The EC emphasised that no new objections would be accepted, and submissions received after the August 10 deadline would not be considered.
Participation in the hearings will be limited to the original objector, their nominated adviser, or a duly authorised legal representative.
Attendees must bring a valid national identity card and all relevant documentation to the venue. The hearing schedule is final and cannot be rescheduled.
As per the published timetable, hearings for the Cumilla region will be held on August 24, followed by the Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram regions on August 5. The Dhaka region will be heard on August 26, and the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Faridpur, and Sylhet regions on August 27.
The Commission received a total of 1,760 objections and suggestions concerning the boundaries of 83 constituencies before the 10 August deadline.