Dhaka, Feb 9 (.) As Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary elections close in, the provision banning mobile phones within 366m of polling stations by the country’s Election Commission has drawn much political ire, resulting in the Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), and the National Citizen Party (NCP), threatening to lay siege to the EC quarters, unless they don’t revoke this provision.
The EC had reportedly sent a circular to returning officers across the country yesterday,barring mobile phones within 400 yards of polling centres on the election day.
Jamaat’s media wing, condemning the decision taken said that the provision, implemented ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum on February 12, imposes unnecessary restrictions on voters instead of ensuring their freedom and security.
The party further argued that ensuring voters can cast their ballots in a free environment is essential to holding a free, fair and credible election, and deemed the decision completely “unjust.”
Giving a similar statement, the IAB likewise threatened to lay siege on the EC over its alleged “unfair” decision, warning officials to immediately revoke this provision.
Registering polling stations as no-phone-zones, according to the directive issued, no individual would be allowed to enter or remain within 400 yards of a polling centre with a mobile phone, be it voters, polling agents, party officials, or journalists had come under heavy fire.
Reportedly, only the presiding officer, the officer-in-charge of the police assigned to the centre, and two authorised Ansar members using the “Election Security 2026” mobile application were permitted to carry phones within the restricted area, though recently, the EC partially revoked its ruling, giving the press access to their phones ahead if the polls
Likewise, the NCP convenor, Nahid Islam, threatened to besiege the EC headquarters if it did not revoke the ban, and questioned the basis of the ruling, saying, “We do not know from where the Election Commission has derived this law or regulation. It is becoming clear to the people whose plan and agenda the EC is following,”
“No individual will be allowed to enter a polling centre or remain within, a 400-yard radius of it with a mobile phone. The restriction will apply to voters, polling agents, and all others present on election duty, with limited exceptions,” said the directive issued on Sunday. . . .