The Election Commission (EC) may move away from its previous stance prohibiting journalists from carrying mobile phones inside polling centres.
This potential change was discussed during a meeting with journalists on Monday afternoon.
EC sources have noted that no formal decision has yet been communicated regarding voters carrying mobile phones. Officials stated that the position will be confirmed shortly through the issuance of a notification.
The potential policy shift follows a directive issued on Sunday by EC Senior Assistant Secretary Md Shahidul Islam, which initially banned mobile phones from polling centres. That instruction, dispatched to all returning officers, specified that phones could not be brought within 400 yards of a centre.
Per the previous directive, only authorised personnel were permitted to carry mobile devices. These included the presiding officer, the police officer in charge of the centre, and two members of the Ansar or VDP who are users of the ‘Election Protection 2026’ app.
