The 12th parliamentary elections would be held in the first week of January next year, election commissioner Anisur Rahman said.

‘The election will be held in the first week of January in 2024. But we have not fixed the date yet,’ the election commissioner said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of training for election officials.

He said that the formalities for the next general election started from Saturday through the training session.

‘Voting will be on the paper ballot. So the challenge will be more. If the election goes out of control, the law empowers the presiding officer to stop the balloting,’ he said.

Chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal was the chief guest on the occasion.

‘Recently the powers of the presiding officer have been increased by law. A free and fair and participatory election will be the success of the EC. We want elections to be not only free, fair and peaceful but also credible. The political culture of the country has not yet reached that height,’ he said.

Election commissioner M Alamgir said, ‘As master trainers election officers must know everything, otherwise it will be wrong if they go to the field and train.’

Another election commissioner, Rasheda Sultana said that careful attention should be paid to ensure the credibility of the election.

Election Commission officials should carry out their duties with professionalism and courage, she said.

Election commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan said that he hoped that the EC officials would play their due roles in holding a fair election.