The Election Commission (EC) has revised its operational protocol to allow voters, candidates, election agents, journalists and observers to carry mobile phones inside polling centres.
A press release issued Tuesday by Md Shahidul Islam, Senior Assistant Secretary of EC Secretariat, said the move was intended to remove ambiguity regarding device usage on election day and ensure smooth functioning for media and monitoring personnel.
Under the revised guidelines, journalists are permitted to use mobile phones to take photographs and document proceedings within polling centres.
Authorized personnel include the presiding officer, police in charge of polling station, two Ansar members using the Election Protection 2026 application, domestic and foreign journalists and observers following official protocols, as well as candidates, their election agents and voters.
However, the use or possession of mobile phones is strictly prohibited inside the secret booth or ballot stamping room.
The directive also clarified that no other members of law enforcement, aside from the Assistant Presiding Officer, Polling Officer, Polling Agent, and the designated police and Ansar personnel, will be allowed to carry mobile phones within polling centres.
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