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Questions are being raised over when results will be declared following voting in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election and referendum.
For the first time, a referendum is being held alongside a parliamentary election. The Election Commission (EC) has already indicated that counting and the announcement of results may take longer than usual.
The EC says it hopes to announce results on Friday morning, the day after polling. However, former election and administrative officials suggest that full results may not be available until Friday afternoon, reports bdnews24.com.
With parliamentary and referendum votes taking place simultaneously, two ballot papers must be counted, along with postal ballots.
After the results are compiled at polling stations, constituency-wise consolidated results will be announced from the offices of returning officers. The final announcement will then be made from the results collection and dissemination centre at the EC Secretariat.
“We hope to announce the results as soon as possible after the election. We expect the results may be declared in the early part of the day on the 13th [of February],” said Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said he expects counting to be completed by 10am on Friday.
“There is no reason for results to be delayed. Every ballot will be counted. Voting will begin at 7:30am on the 12th of February. Counting will be completed by 10am the next day, Friday,” he said.
Speaking earlier on Jan 23, Akhtar had warned that counting would take longer this time.
“This time voters will cast ballots on two papers. In addition, postal ballots must be counted. For this reason, counting will take longer than usual.”
He added that if results from multiple constituencies were received simultaneously, returning officers may need additional time to publish them.