Candidates, Proposers and Seconders Allowed to File Nominations in Person
The Election Commission has made it compulsory for nomination papers of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election to be submitted in person by candidates, or their proposers or seconders. This was stated in a circular of the Election Commission (EC) today. Deputy Secretary of the EC Mohammad Monir Hossain said that candidates or their proposers or seconders can submit the nomination paper in person to the designated Returning Officer (RO) or Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) as per schedule.
The system of online submission of the nomination papers has been cancelled according to the change in the EC law, he said. According to the circular, divisional commissioners, regional election officers and officials responsible for the Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna metropolitan areas have been appointed as returning officers for those constituencies. Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been designated as returning officers for all other constituencies. Upazila Nirbahi Officers have been assigned as assistant returning officers.
Additionally, in certain areas, additional deputy commissioners (General/Revenue/Education and ICT/LA), regional executive officers of city corporations, deputy directors of local government, officers of deputy commissioners’ and divisional commissioners’ offices, cantonment executive officers, additional regional election officers, additional district election officers and upazila election officers have also been appointed as assistant returning officers. Their jurisdictions have been specified, and under the law, they will assist the returning officers and may carry out RO duties if necessary.
Under the provisions of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, each RO will promptly issue constituency-wise public notices following the EC’s gazette notification. The notices must include the EC-declared schedule and specify the date, time and place for the submission of nomination papers at the offices of the RO/ARO. Nomination papers will be distributed and received every day, including public holidays, from 9 am to 5 pm. Candidates must submit their papers in person along with their proposers and seconders.
The public notices must be displayed at prominent locations within the respective constituencies. A specimen notice has been attached with the circular. The general election to 300 constituencies of the Jatiya Sangsad will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The last date for submitting nomination papers to the RO or ARO is Monday, December 29.
