EC gives nod to draft code banning posters in election campaigns

The Election Commission on Thursday approved in principle the draft of the Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates 2025, incorporating a provision that bans the use of posters in the electoral campaigns.

“Use of posters in parliamentary election campaigns will not be allowed,” Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah told reporters raising the outcomes of a commission meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, held from 11am to 2:30pm at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

Sanaullah said the draft code was approved in principle after making several changes to the existing rules.

He said the revised code has incorporated several proposals from the Electoral System Reform Commission. Since some changes in the code are linked to amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the code has been finalised and subjected to RPO amendment, he said.

Now the EC will publish the code of conduct on the website to seek public opinion, but there will be a note with the code that it is subjected to the RPO amendment, he added.

Mentioning that the punishment for violating this code has been made stricter, he said the maximum punishment will be up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 150,000 instead of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 50,000.

The Election Commissioner said the use of posters was banned in line with a recommendation made by the Electoral System Reform Commission, but the provision for the use of billboards during the campaign has been included for the first time in the code of conduct.

“While posters are banned, candidates can still use banners and festoons,” he explained.

The code of the conduct also prohibits the advisers (of the election-time government) from joining election campaigns. The advisers have been defined as VVIPs in the new code.

About the use of social media, he said the code specifically defined what can and cannot be done on social media platforms.

“Dos and don’ts on social media have been defined,” he said, adding the use of foreign investment in social media is restricted.

To curb sound pollution during campaigns, Sanaullah said campaign-related sound levels must not exceed 60 decibels, in line with international standards as such a provision was incorporated in the code.

Regarding campaign duration, he said, “Three weeks will be allowed for campaigning.”

The Election Commissioner said all candidates will be given scope to read their manifestos from a common platform arranged by the returning officer in each constituency.

Candidates currently serving on governing bodies of educational institutions must resign from their posts once their candidacy is confirmed, he said.

Sanaullah said the commission will collect undertakings from political parties, making it binding for both parties and candidates to comply with the code of conduct.