Election roadmap to be announced next week: EC Secretary

The Election Commission (EC) will unveil the roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Election next week, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking to journalists, Ahmed confirmed that the schedule and key milestones for the upcoming polls will be made public shortly.

The announcement comes after the Council of Advisers met at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat on August 7, where Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized that ensuring a free, fair, and credible election is the interim government’s foremost responsibility.

Following the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated, “The Chief Adviser noted that the first phase of his tenure ended on August 5. With today’s meeting, we are entering the second phase—our primary focus now is delivering a transparent and impartial election.”

On August 6, the Chief Adviser’s Office formally instructed the EC to complete all necessary preparations for holding the next general election before Ramadan, which begins in February 2026. This directive constitutes the government’s official election timeline request to the Commission.

According to EC sources, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the electoral process will be strictly banned. The spread of misleading or harmful content on social media—including deepfakes, fabricated news, manipulated audio or video, defamatory material, and false or biased information—will not be permitted.

Any attempt to digitally alter the images or likenesses of candidates or political leaders for propaganda purposes will also be prohibited. Violators may face legal action under cyber security and digital laws.

These measures are part of a revised draft code of conduct for political parties and candidates, finalized by the EC Secretariat after consultations with political parties, civil society organizations, and individuals.

The initial draft, released on June 29, included general social media guidelines. However, based on feedback—including from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—new provisions have been added to specifically address AI misuse and online disinformation.

The updated draft also bans the use of drones, quadcopters, and similar aerial devices during the campaign period and on election day, aiming to ensure security, fairness, and order throughout the electoral process.