Election Commission Issues Comprehensive Voting Guidelines

The Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC) has issued a new directive mandating that all educational institutions designated as polling stations for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and accompanying referendum must ensure that their existing CCTV cameras remain operational. This instruction is part of the EC’s broader effort to maintain transparency, security, and smooth conduct during the electoral process.

On Wednesday, 17 December, EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain formally communicated the directive to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and the Local Government Division. According to the notice, polling stations must be made fully accessible for voters well ahead of the election date. Necessary infrastructure improvements should be carried out to ensure the centres are safe, functional, and voter-friendly. In locations without electricity, a reliable power connection must be arranged.

The directive emphasises that CCTV connections at all polling stations should remain fully active throughout the election. For centres currently without CCTV, the management committees or authorities have been urged to arrange temporary connections, at least for the voting day, to guarantee proper monitoring and accountability.

Additionally, the Election Commission has called on district commissioners, police superintendents, and upazila executive officers to personally inspect polling stations. Special arrangements must also be made for vulnerable voters, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, particularly in cyclone shelters where mobility may be restricted.