The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday finalised the draft Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, 2025, proposing a number of measures to regulate the polls, one being a ban on posters for election campaign, reports BSS.
"A new rule was included in the (draft) code of conduct banning use of posters for election campaigns," Election Commissioner retired brigadier general Abul Fazal M Sanaullah told journalists after a commission meeting.
He said the EC decided to slap a fine of TK 1.5 lakh for defiance of the proposed rule and proposed that one could lose candidature for severe violation of the code.
Sanaullah said the EC accepted the draft in its seventh meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachon Bhban in Agargaon.
He said the meeting said the draft was finalized proposing amendment to some provisions of the Representation of People Order (RPO) and taking into cognizance recommendations of the Unity Commission.
He said the draft Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025, would be made public on the EC website after the final approval by the commission.
The commissioner said scrapping of candidature and ban on billboards would be new inclusions in the election code.
"The Election Reform Commission had proposed to drop use of posters, and we agreed to the suggestion," he said, but added that the rival candidates would be allowed to use banners and festoons for electioneering.
Sanaullah said the task of demarcation of parliamentary constituencies was expected to be completed by the end of next week.
Sanaullah said under the proposed code the advisory council members were debarred from taking part in an election campaign on any candidate's favour while the code imposed some restrictions for such very important persons in using various government facilities like circuit houses, bungalows and rest houses.
He said the commission decided to introduce voter slips and relax restrictions on using T-shirts, jackets, etc.
The meeting allowed campaign on social media but restricted influx of foreign funds in this regard.
The candidates would be allowed to carry on a campaign for three weeks, also using the megaphones, but the sound level must be kept below 60 decibels.
According to the draft, the candidates would get the opportunity for joining dialogue on TV shows.
The candidates who are presidents or members of the board of directors of an educational institution must resign once the candidacy was finalised.
"Both the party and candidate will have to give an affidavit that they will comply with the code of conduct, Sanaullah said.
Asked how EC planned to arrange a common platform as discussed earlier, he said returning officers would arrange for all candidates of the concerned constituency to read their manifestos or declarations from one platform on a particular day.
Four election commissioners, EC's senior secretary and concerned officials joined the meeting.
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