The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has directed that reports on voter turnout and law and order be sent every two hours on polling day for the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. The directive, issued Monday by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam, states that the process will begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue until unofficial results are received. Returning officers must report on the election environment, law and order, and submit vote count summaries from presiding officers.

According to the circular, the Election Management System (EMS) software will be used to ensure faster and more accurate result transmission. Assistant returning officers will appoint two data entry operators per center to scan and upload results using Form-16. Even if no postal votes are received, results must record a zero entry, and final results must integrate postal votes into Form-18.

The EC instructed that all consolidated result summaries (Form-18) and election returns (Form-19) be submitted in both hard and soft copies by February 13. Final result sheets must bear the returning officer’s signature and be uploaded to the Result Management System (RMS).