Ahead of the 13th parliamentary polls, the Election Commission has, for the first time, banned the use of posters and drones in election campaigns.
The EC issued a gazette on the “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025” on Monday, in preparation for the upcoming national election scheduled for February 2026.
The new code imposes strict regulations on campaign activities, including limitations on billboards, noise levels, and the use of social media.
Under the revised guidelines, candidates and political parties must formally commit to these rules by signing a declaration. Furthermore, all candidates within a constituency will be required to present their manifestos jointly on a shared platform, supervised by the returning officer.
According to the updated regulations, each candidate may install up to 20 billboards within their constituency, with each not exceeding 16 feet in length and 9 feet in width. Campaign noise levels must also remain below 60 decibels.
If the candidates and political parties are found violating the code of conduct, they have to face up to six months of imprisonment and fines of Tk 150,000 each.
The Representation of People Order (RPO) also allows for the cancellation of a candidate’s nomination if any provision of the code is violated.
As per the guidelines, conducting election activities abroad has been strictly prohibited.
The gazette was signed by Akhtar Ahmed, senior secretary of the EC Secretariat.
