Voters can take mobiles to polling centres, but cannot use them in secret booths

The Election Commission has backtracked on an earlier restriction barring mobile phones from centres in the face of criticism

The Election Commission (EC) has withdrawn its decision to ban mobile phones inside polling stations amid criticism.

According to the new decision, voters can take mobile phones to polling stations, but they cannot be used in secret booths (where votes are cast).

Orders in this regard, signed by EC Assistant Senior Secretary Shahidul Islam, were sent to returning officers on Tuesday.

In addition to voters, those who can use mobile phones are:

a. The presiding officer in charge of the polling station;

b. The police officer-in-charge at the polling station;

c. Two Ansar members using the “Nirbhasha Surakshya 2026” app of the Ansar-VDP in charge of the polling station;

d. Domestic and foreign journalists and observers

e. Rival candidates and their election agents and voters.

On Sunday night, the EC had imposed a ban on entering polling stations for the parliamentary elections and referendum while carrying mobile phones. Widespread criticism meth the decision.

Representatives of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami went to the EC and raised objections to the issue.

Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), a party in the alliance, warned of besieging the EC if the decision was not withdrawn.