DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Election Commission announced that the 13th national parliamentary election will be held on February 12. The election was delayed after the Sheikh Hasina government was removed last year. There are 56 political parties registered, but the Awami League, led by Hasina, has its registration suspended. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin set December 29 as the last date for filing nomination papers. Election campaigns will start on January 22 and run until February 10 at 7:30 am. Voting will take place across all 300 parliamentary seats on February 12. The Awami League rejected the announced election schedule. The party called the current government and election commission "illegal." It demanded a neutral government be formed to hold elections. Analysts say the upcoming election could affect India’s access to its Northeast region and shift the regional power balance.