A policy reversal in Bangladesh now allows reporters and election watchers to use mobile phones within polling premises during the 13th parliamentary elections. Disclosed by Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah (Retd. Brig. Gen.) on Monday at Dhaka’s EC building, the change addresses longstanding media grievances.
Real-time documentation will now be feasible, Sanaullah noted, aiding transparency for the February 12, 2026, elections alongside a constitutional referendum. This follows the EC’s December announcement of the poll program.
The original edict banned phones in a 400-yard perimeter, permitting only essential staff: presiding officers, police, and specific Ansar operators for the security app. Directives reached 69 officials, from divisional heads to district leaders in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna.
Press freedom advocates, notably RFED, rallied against it. Their Monday delegation to Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmad, led by Kazi Jebel, highlighted risks to journalistic duties and poll credibility.
‘ such curbs stifle media and erode trust,’ Jebel remarked. The EC’s responsiveness marks a shift, potentially improving coverage quality.
As Bangladesh navigates this high-stakes vote, the adjustment underscores adaptive governance. It may encourage fuller participation in monitoring, fortifying democratic pillars against manipulation claims.