Dhaka: For the first time in Bangladesh’s electoral history, a national election campaign is unfolding without the familiar clutter of posters on walls, electric poles, and roadside trees, marking a striking departure from the visual chaos that traditionally signals the onset of election season. Streets that once announced the arrival of polls through layers of colorful faces, slogans, and party symbols now appear unusually bare, altering not only the cityscape but also the mood and rhythm of campaigning ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the dramatic shift follows the Election Commission’s decision to ban all forms of posters under the revised electoral code, a move aimed at curbing environmental damage and visual pollution that has long accompanied electioneering across the country. While the decision has drawn praise from environmentalists and urban residents for restoring cleaner public spaces, it has also sparked confusion among voters accustomed to identif
ying candidates through posters and dealt a severe blow to the country’s printing industry, which traditionally relies heavily on election-time orders.
Traditionally, a festive atmosphere is created with the beginning of the election campaign, which is largely absent this year. With posters, loud mike announcements, and other overt campaign tools restricted, many voters say the election atmosphere feels distant-almost unfamiliar. “Without posters, it doesn’t even feel like a national election,” said Ruhul Amin, a resident of the New Market area in Dhaka. “Posters and festoons were a common feature. Now, people who don’t actively follow politics or media are struggling to recognize the candidates,” he said.
If the streets appear quiet, the silence is even louder inside printing presses. At Fakirapool and Banglabazar-two hubs of Dhaka’s printing industry-machines that would normally be running round the clock during election season are idle. Owners say they have not received any order due to the restriction.
“Usually, elections mean business worth several crores of taka. This time, it’s zero. We’ve already bought paper worth lakhs expecting orders that never came,” said a printing press owner at Banglabazar requesting anonymity.
The Election Commission amended the electoral code and issued a gazette on November 10 last year imposing a ban on the use of posters and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media in election campaigns. According to the new code of conduct, no one also can carry out election campaigns in religious places of worship like mosques, temples, pagodas, and churches as well as government offices or educational institutions. Candidates may still distribute leaflets, handbills, and use festoons or billboards but with strict conditions. In party campaigns, only the party chief’s photograph may be displayed, no other leader or candidate can appear in visuals.
Shafiqul Islam, a resident of the Bashundhara residential area, said he is mostly learning about the election through tele
vision. “I haven’t seen the usual posters or mike announcements. The campaign feels less lively.” Naim, a resident of the Banasree area, remarked, “Poster-free elections are good in one way. The city stays clean. But since this is the first time, it feels different. I’m relying on the news media to know who belongs to which party.”
Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the decision was taken after consulting political parties. “We sought opinions from all political parties. Only one party opposed the ban while the majority supported it,” he told UNB. He said that environmental concerns played a key role. “There were strong objections from environmentalists and the Ministry of Environment. Considering those concerns and the views of most parties, posters were banned.”