Dhaka: The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has imposed restrictions on taxi-cabs, pick-ups, microbuses, and trucks from 12am on February 11 to 12am on February 12, 2026, ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum. Motorcycles will also face restrictions from 12am on February 10 to 12am on February 13, 2026.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the restrictions will be relaxed for specific categories of vehicles. These include those belonging to law enforcement and armed forces, administration, and approved observers. Vehicles engaged in emergency services or transporting medicines, health-related supplies, and newspapers are also exempt. Additionally, vehicles ferrying passengers or relatives to and from airports with tickets or relevant proof, long-distance passenger vehicles, and one vehicle per contesting candidate and each candidate's election agent with proper documents and an Election Commission sticker will be allowed to operate.
The EC has also made exceptions for journalists, observers, or vehicles used for election work with EC approval, as well as motorcycles used by officials, employees, or others on election duties. Vehicles of telecom operators licensed by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) are also exempt from these restrictions.
Furthermore, the EC has authorised relevant authorities to ensure that exceptions are implemented on national highways, ports, inter-district or metropolitan entry/exit routes, and other key roads. District magistrates and metropolitan police commissioners have been granted the power to impose or relax restrictions on other vehicles as per the schedule during the election and referendum period.
The announcement of these measures was made through a government notification signed by Al-Amin Md Nurul Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division.