Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has released a new set of guidelines titled 'Polling Centre Establishment and Management Guidelines 2025', aimed at regulating the setup of polling centres for the upcoming national election. This directive grants EC officials exclusive authority in the establishment of these centres.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the guidelines, which have been officially published as a gazette notification, assign EC field-level officials the responsibility of setting up polling centres. This responsibility was previously managed by committees at the upazila and district levels. The notification emphasizes the importance of selecting optimal locations for polling centres to ensure a free and fair national election. It highlights that these centres should be situated in areas where voters can cast their ballots without influence from any individual, community, or political party.
The guidelines stipulate that, in line with article eight of the Representation of the People Order 1972, the EC holds the exclusive right to publish the final list of polling centres alongside the election schedule. Instructions have been issued to EC field officials to prepare preliminary lists of suitable polling centres, which will be released as proposed locations. The final list will be determined after addressing any objections, claims, and recommendations, and will be published in a gazette.
According to the guidelines, each polling centre should cater to an average of 3,000 voters, with one room allocated for every 500 male voters and 400 female voters. The guidelines were approved on May 21 by the fifth EC, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM NasirUddin. Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Mohammad Salaullah stated that the committee system has been abolished, following the meeting.