The government has formally instructed the Election Commission to prepare for conducting a national referendum alongside the upcoming parliamentary election on the same day.

EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed confirmed the development on Saturday, saying that the government’s letter made it clear that organising the referendum falls under the Commission’s jurisdiction and must be carried out concurrently with the national polls.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin had earlier stated that the EC would move forward with planning once it received an official directive from the government.

The EC is planning to announce the election schedule in early December, with the national election likely to be held in the first half of February.