DHAKA: The election campaign with symbols has started on Monday.

The Election Commission (EC), however, has imposed 10 types of restrictions on election campaigns including prohibiting the candidates or persons on behalf of them from organizing demonstrations with torches or motorcade procession.

EC deputy secretary M Shamsul Alam informed the returning officers regarding the code of conduct and the prohibitions on election campaign.

Returning officers were asked to take initiatives to disseminate the information and take actions against those who will violate the code of conduct.

There are restrictions on use of microphone or mike. Two mikes or sound amplifying devices can be used during election campaigns, which must be limited from 2:00pm to 8:00pm everyday.

The posters and leaflets of the candidates must be black and white. The size has to be within 60-cm long and 45-cm wide. The symbol displayed in the poster must not be more than 3-cm in size.

The candidates were allowed to publish the party chief’s photo alongside his/her photograph only.

Meetings will be limited to street and domestic (home) meetings. In the case of domestic meeting, police need to be informed 24 hours before the meeting.

Billboards – be it permanent or temporary – are not allowed.

Installing gates for demonstration or building enclosure is prohibited. Anything that may distract or create obstacles in people’s way of life cannot be used by the candidates during their election campaigns.

Religious places (such as mosques, temples or any other prayer place) cannot be used for election campaign.

To ensure peaceful election environment, motorcycle rally is banned. The ban will be effective from 12:00am of December 28 to 6:00am of December 31.

BDST: 2143 HRS, DEC 14, 2015
AS/SR