Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has begun a nationwide public awareness drive ahead of the referendum and the 13th National Parliamentary Election, both scheduled to be held on 12 February 2026.
As part of the initiative, the commission is distributing thousands of banners and more than 80 million leaflets across the country to inform voters about the upcoming vote and encourage participation.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Md Ruhul Amin Mallick, director (public relations) and information officer at the EC Secretariat, 15,000 eco-friendly banners have been printed with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These are being displayed at key administrative and public locations nationwide.
The banners are being installed at divisional commissioners’ offices, regional and district election offices, deputy commissioners’ offices, city corporation headquarters, ward offices in Dhaka, municipal offices, upazila nirbahi offices, and election offices at the upazila and thana levels. The commission has instructed officials to ensure prominent placement in areas with high public visibility.
In addition to the banners, the EC has printed more than 80 million leaflets explaining the referendum and election process. Distribution is being coordinated through the commission’s Procurement and Printing Branch and Publication and Documentation Branch.
Under the distribution plan, each upazila or thana election office will receive 15,000 leaflets, while senior district or district election offices will receive 3,000 copies each. Regional election offices will be allocated 2,000 leaflets.
Election officials have been directed to distribute the materials widely among government and private offices, union parishad offices, service centres, educational institutions, religious establishments, hospitals, markets and other public gathering points. Leaflets will also be handed out to visitors at public service offices and during routine administrative interactions.
To support grassroots-level outreach, the EC has allocated promotional materials for distribution at the local level, including 1,000 leaflets per union, municipality and city corporation ward.
Election officials at district and upazila levels have been instructed to coordinate with the relevant EC branches to collect the materials and ensure timely and effective distribution within their jurisdictions.
The Election Commission says the campaign aims to improve public understanding of the referendum question as well as the voting process for the general election, at a time when voter engagement and transparency are central to the country’s democratic transition.
Both the referendum and parliamentary election will be held on the same day, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s electoral calendar. Officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring a free, fair and inclusive vote, supported by voter education and broad public awareness.
