Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - Hectic preparations including training of 43,725 polling officials are afoot for smooth holding of upcoming 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum scheduled for February 12 in 16 constituencies in Chattogram.  

While talking to BSS, Chattogram Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Dr. Md Ziauddin said that they have selected officials for polling duties very cautiously to avoid any controversy and arrange the much-awaited election in a peaceful, credible, and festive atmosphere. 

“Those who had played ‘pro-active’ or “over enthusiastic” role in controversial elections during erstwhile fallen government have been kept away from any role in polls related jobs,” he said. 

The Election Commission had carefully scrutinized through internal investigation into the past roles of selected polling and presiding officers to ensure the impartiality of election process, he said. 

According to the Ctg regional EC office, around 39,750 officials that included presiding officers, assistant presiding and polling officers will be required for polls duties. 

“ But we have primarily selected 43,725 officials with addition of ten percent more in compared to actual number of required officials for meeting any emergency and their training will begin from January 22 next,” Senior Election Officer of Chattogram District Mohammad Bashir Ahmad told BSS on Saturday . 

A list of polling officers has been finalized who have been involved with government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions including recognized educational institutions. 

The training programmes will be conducted in schools and colleges in the city and district until February 7. Mohammad Bashir Ahmed said that 1965 polling stations and 12,595 polling booths have been identified and fixed for voting.

 According to the information of the Chattogram Regional Election Office, the total number of voters in the 16 parliamentary constituencies of Chattogram in the 13th National Parliament election is 66 lakh 82 thousand 517 people. Of these, the number of male voters is 34 lakh 83 thousand 877 people and the number of female voters is 31 lakh 98 thousand 570 people. EC also has enlisted 70 persons as voter of third gender. 

During the recent voter list update in Chattogram city and districts, 93,837 deceased persons were removed from existing voter list. Additionally, 24,799 voters transferred their registration to different locations. The total number of voters has increased by approximately 100,000 compared to the previous election. 

However, the number of polling stations has decreased by 58 in all constituencies. In the 12th parliamentary election, there were 6,576,925 voters in 16 constituencies with 2,023 voting centers. This time, 1,965 polling stations have been set up for the upcoming election.

Constituency-wise number polling stations are 106 in Chattogram-1 , 141 in Chattogram -2 , 83 in Chattogram-3, 124 in Chattogram -4, 142 in Chattogram-5, 95 in Chattogram-6, 92 in Chattogram-7, 179 in Chattogram-8, 121 in Chattogram-9, 139 in Chattogram -11, 143 in Chattogram-12, 113 in Chattogram-13, 100 in Chattogram -14, 157 in Chattogram -15 and 112 in Chattogram -16 . 

The Additional Regional Election Officer in Chattogram, Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, mentioned that paper ballots instead of EVM will be used for vote casting in all constituencies here. 

This policy change has resulted in decrease in the number of polling stations in 13th parliamentary election as previously more voting centers were required for using EVM system. 

Independent observers opined that votes of expatriates are expected to play a significant role in determining the election results in Chattogram.

 A total of 95,246 voters from 16 parliamentary constituencies, both in the country and abroad, have registered. The highest registration was in Chattogram-15 (Lohagara-Satkania Partial) constituency, while the lowest response was seen in Chattogram-12 (Patiya) constituency. The data was obtained from the 'OCV-SDI' project related to the registration of expatriate voters. Additionally, three categories of voters have registered within the country which includes officials and employees engaged in election duties, government employees working outside their own areas, and voters in legal custody (prison). 

For postal vote casting , it was known that 6,586 people have registered in Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), 7,689 in Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari), 4,792 in Chattogram-3 (Sandwip), 5,144 in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda-City Corporation part), 6,785 in Chattogram-5 (Hathazari-City Corporation part), 4,05 in Chattogram-6 (Raujan), 5,853 in Chattogram-7 Rangunia, 5,605 in Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali-Chandgaon), 3,836 people in Chattogram-9 (Kotwali), 6,140 in Chattogram-10 (Doublemooring-Pahartoli and Halishahar), 5,943 in Chattogram-11 (Bandar-Patenga), 3,201 in Chattogram-12 (Patiya), 3,219 in Chattogram-13 (Anowara-Karnaphuli). 5,284 people in Chattogram-14 (Chandanaish-Satkania partial), 14,301 people in Chattogram-15 (Lohagara-Satkania partial), and 6,763 voters in Chattogram-16 (Baanshkhali) . 

Chattogram District Senior Election Officer Md. Bashir Ahmed said they have achieved much progress in polls related preparations keeping in mind that voting for parliament members as well as referendum for “Yes” or “No” votes on July National Charter to be held simultaneously. 

“We are hopeful of holding the election in a festive manner with the participation of good number of voters . Some polling stations have been identified as important and vulnerable and additional security measures will be taken to maintain peace there,” he said. 

The law and order situation is currently normal. He said that 145 candidates had submitted their nomination papers in 16 constituencies of Chattogram, out of which 42 were rejected in the selection process. While the appeal hearing is ongoing, many have regained their candidacy through the appeal process. Withdrawal of candidacies will continue until January 20, symbol allocation will be given on January 21, and campaigning will start from January 22. Voting will start on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 am.

Many candidates have already been penalized for violating the code of conduct. The process of sending ballot papers to 95,246 voters of Chattogram registered in the Postal BD app is going on.