Dhaka, Nov. 15 -- With the interim government deciding to hold a referendum on the same day as the parliamentary election, the Election Commission (EC) must rework its plans so referendum preparations are fully integrated into the general election operation.

It will be Bangladesh's first referendum in about 34 years, and the first time in its history that a referendum and a parliamentary poll will be held together. Also for the first time, expatriate Bangladeshis will vote by postal ballot.

The combined electorate will comprise nearly 127 million domestic voters plus around one million expatriates. That scale brings a new list of operational challenges for the EC.

The EC has already said if a referendum is added, its election plan must...