Special Correspondent; Dbarta24 — Bangladesh will hold its presidential election on August 20, 2026, with voting set to take place inside the Parliament chamber from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the Election Commission (EC) announced on Thursday.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed disclosed the election schedule to reporters after receiving the finalized voter list from the Parliament Secretariat. Under the announced schedule, prospective candidates can submit their nomination papers through August 13, with the deadline for withdrawal set for August 18.
Electoral Mechanism and Key Appointments
The Head of State will be elected through a secret ballot cast by Members of Parliament (MPs). Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin will serve as the Returning Officer for the presidential poll.
Constitutional Context and Interim Governance
The upcoming election follows the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24, 2026. In accordance with the Constitution, the Election Commission is mandated to organize a presidential election within 90 days of the position becoming vacant.
Pending the election and swearing-in of the new president, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikram) is discharging the duties of the President as per constitutional provisions. Consequently, Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal has stepped in to handle the responsibilities of the Speaker of Parliament.
With the publication of the official voter list and schedule, the political process to fill the nation’s top office enters its final phase, ensuring a constitutional transition of executive authority in Bangladesh.