Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has imposed a restriction on the movement of motorcycles across the country for three days before and after the national election. This measure is part of a broader effort to maintain order and security during the election period.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the EC's directives issued on Tuesday also include a suspension of movement for trucks, microbuses, taxi-cabs, and motorcycles for 24 hours on election day. The EC has communicated with the Road Transport and Highways Division to ensure these restrictions are implemented effectively.
Additionally, the movement of vessels will be restricted on the day of the polls. The EC has prohibited candidates and their supporters from setting up election camps or conducting campaigns within 400 yards of any polling centre. All campaign materials, such as posters and leaflets, must be removed before voting begins.
The notice further specifies that candidates or their representatives are not allowed to use vehicles to transport voters to polling stations on election day. To safeguard voter privacy, polling stations are required to have secret booths or marking places, ensuring the confidentiality of each voter's choice. If the polling rooms have windows or open spaces, these must be closed.
Given that both the election and a referendum are scheduled for the same day, voters will cast votes on two separate ballots. Thus, wherever feasible, two secret booths should be established in each polling room. If this is not possible, additional polling rooms should be organized.
The EC mandates the use of transparent ballot boxes at polling centres, with each polling room having one box along with an additional reserve box. In the event that a ballot box becomes full during voting, it must be securely sealed and stored.