Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, said the government has consistently stated that the election will take place in the first half of February, and the chief adviser has urged everyone to make necessary preparations.

“As you can see, the government is taking all kinds of preparations,” he added.

Speaking at a press briefing in front of the state guest house Jamuna on Wednesday, Shafiqul Alam said the chief adviser spoke with all Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) across the country and reiterated the importance of the upcoming election.

“He emphasized that this will be a historic and memorable election and told everyone to keep this in mind,” the press secretary said.

On the nationwide campaign for the referendum, he said: “We are already seeing campaigns in many areas, and people are becoming increasingly aware. Citizens are learning what the ‘Yes-No’ vote actually means. It is a package: if you accept the package, you vote ‘Yes’; if not, you vote ‘No.’ I’ve seen discussions about this even in informal settings. Last Friday, I visited Magura and observed the conversations firsthand.”

He added that the government, through the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, other relevant wings, and the Election Commission, will run extensive campaigns to ensure that people in even the most remote areas understand the purpose of the referendum and how to cast their ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote.

Referring to the timeline, Shafiqul Alam said: “If we say mid-February, we still have a little over two months. That is sufficient time, and both the government and the Election Commission are taking all necessary preparations. We have also seen strong enthusiasm among our diaspora for postal ballots, with over 300,000 already registered.”

He emphasized: “The government has consistently said the election will be held in early February. When we visit villages and district towns, we can see the momentum building. The problem arises when certain so-called commentators on YouTube or TV spread confusion. Some senior journalists are also contributing to this, and perhaps they gain extra views, but it creates unnecessary misinformation.”