DST News: The Election Commission of Bangladesh has issued a new set of rules outlining how political parties and candidates must conduct their campaigns for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections, formally publishing the guidelines in a gazette on Monday night.
Under the revised Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025, the use of posters for campaigning has been completely prohibited. Parties and candidates will now be required to announce their election manifestos together on a shared platform, and each must submit a written pledge agreeing to follow the code.
The rules introduce a series of penalties for violations. Candidates or parties can face up to six months in jail and a fine of Tk 150,000, while serious breaches may lead to the cancellation of candidacy under provisions of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
Restrictions on Campaign Materials and Technology
The guidelines set clear limits on publicity tools.
• Posters are banned entirely.
• A candidate may install no more than 20 billboards within their constituency, each restricted to 16 feet by 9 feet in size.
• The use of drones, quadcopters or similar devices is prohibited both during the campaign period and on polling day.
• Campaigns abroad are not allowed.
• Plastic-based campaign materials, including PVC banners, polythene and rexine, are banned to encourage environment-friendly alternatives.
• Sound levels during campaigns must not exceed 60 decibels.
Voter slips may be distributed, but they cannot contain the candidate’s name, photograph, position or election symbol.
Social Media Rules and AI Misuse Prevention
One of the most notable updates strengthens oversight of online campaigning. Candidates wishing to campaign on social media must submit the names, account IDs, email addresses and other digital identifiers of their official campaign pages to the returning officer prior to launching online activities.
The commission has also explicitly banned the use of artificial intelligence for harmful purposes, such as creating deepfakes, spreading misinformation or distorting a candidate’s image or message. Hate speech, personal attacks, the use of religious or ethnic sentiment for political gain, and deliberate falsehoods are strictly prohibited.
All election-related content must be verified before being posted, the commission said.
A new clause has been added to the RPO specifically aimed at preventing rumors and AI-driven manipulation during the electoral period.
Mandatory Public Manifesto Event
To ensure greater transparency and equal visibility, returning officers will organize a platform where all candidates in each constituency will present their election manifestos publicly on the same day.
Enforcement and Possible Disqualification
If the Election Commission receives credible evidence suggesting that a candidate or campaign has violated these rules, it may order an immediate inquiry. If the investigation confirms the breach, the EC may cancel the candidate’s nomination under Article 91 of the RPO.
Undertakings Required
Political parties must submit a written commitment to abide by the code when submitting nomination papers. Individual candidates must sign a similar undertaking, acknowledging that they may face legal consequences for any breach, whether committed directly or by associates acting on their behalf.
Source of Information: BSS
