For the first time in Bangladesh’s election history, the use of posters in election campaigns has been banned.

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday (10 November) issued the “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025,” ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election to be held in February 2026, introducing strict new rules on campaigning, including limits on billboards, noise levels, and social media use.

According to the new code, candidates and political parties must sign a formal declaration pledging to comply with the rules. All candidates will also be required to announce their manifestos together on the same platform under the supervision of the returning officer.

The new regulations prohibit the use of posters, drones, and overseas campaigns. Each candidate may use no more than 20 billboards within their constituency, with a maximum size of 16 feet in length and 9 feet in width. Campaign noise levels must not exceed 60 decibels.

Violations of the code can result in up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of Tk1.5 lakh for candidates, and the same amount for political parties. The EC will also have the authority to cancel a candidate’s nomination after investigation.

Strict rules for online campaigning

The code introduces comprehensive guidelines for social media campaigning. Candidates, their agents, or supporters may campaign on social media but must submit all account names, IDs, and email addresses to the returning officer before starting online activities. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for manipulation, misinformation, or image distortion is strictly prohibited.

Posting or sharing any hateful, misleading, obscene, or defamatory content — particularly targeting opponents, women, minorities, or any community — is banned. Using religion or ethnic sentiment for electoral advantage is also forbidden. All election-related content must be fact-checked before publication or sharing.

To curb AI abuse and misinformation, new provisions have been added to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), classifying such acts as electoral crimes.

Campaign and environmental restrictions

No political party or candidate may hold rallies or campaign events abroad. Drones, quadcopters, or similar devices cannot be used on election day or during campaigning. Candidates may distribute voter slips but cannot include their name, photo, or symbol on them.

Only digital billboards may use lighting, while general decorative lighting is banned. The use of PVC or polythene materials in banners, festoons, or leaflets is also prohibited to encourage eco-friendly campaign materials.

The code also extends the list of “very important persons” barred from electioneering to include the chief adviser and advisers of the interim or caretaker government.

Stronger penalties, transparency measures

The new code explicitly links serious violations to disqualification under Section 91 of the RPO, empowering the EC to cancel a candidate’s nomination for major offences — something not clearly stated in previous codes.

In addition, the EC will facilitate public manifesto sessions where all candidates in a constituency can present their manifestos together in front of voters and the media.

The 2025 code also introduces, for the first time, an IT-supported postal voting system, allowing three categories of domestic voters and expatriate Bangladeshis to vote by mail.