Dhaka, Dec. 9 -- The Election Commission is gearing up to record the chief election commissioner's address on 10 December, a move widely seen as the final step before announcing the schedule for 13th parliamentary election and referendum on the same day in early February next year.

Officials at Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar have been told to prepare for the recording, according to EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, who briefed reporters at the commission headquarters in Agargaon on Monday.

He said the address would be taped at the EC building and could be aired later that day or on 11 December.

Commission insiders say this recorded message is expected to serve as the formal announcement of the election schedule.

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