Published : 07 Sep 2026, 07:11 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:48 AM
The Election Commission has issued new codes of conduct for all five tiers of local government elections, banning posters and setting limits on campaign materials, loudspeakers, vehicles, social media use and voter data collection.
Banners, leaflets, festoons and billboards will still be allowed, but only within specified size and usage limits.
Microphones and campaign vehicles can be used only during fixed hours.
Published on Monday, the rules replace the 2016 code as union council, municipality, city corporation, Upazila and district council elections return to non-party symbols.
The change marks the return of non-party local elections after more than a decade of party-based contests.
Posters Banned, Billboards Capped
Posters are banned outright under the new rules.
Banners, leaflets, festoons and billboards remain permitted, but their size and use are restricted.
Banners cannot exceed 10ft by 4ft, while leaflets and handbills must be no larger than A4 size.
Festoons are capped at 18 inches by 24 inches, while the campaign area on a billboard cannot exceed 16ft by 9ft.
Candidates in city corporation and union council elections may use one billboard per ward.
In Upazila council elections, one billboard is allowed per union or municipal ward, with a maximum of 20 across the constituency.
District council candidates may use one billboard per Thana or Upazila.
All campaign materials must be printed in black and white.
Festoons and handbills cannot be covered with polythene or PVC and must carry the date of printing.
Election symbols cannot exceed 6ft in length, width or height, while live animals cannot be used in campaign materials.
Microphones, Vehicles and Social Media
Microphones or loudspeakers can be used only from noon until sunset, with no more than one allowed at a time.
The same time restriction applies to campaign vehicles, although microphones are not permitted in district council elections.
Social media campaigning is allowed, but related spending must be included in a candidate’s election expenses.
The code also bars the use of artificial intelligence to spread false information or create manipulated or misleading content.
NIDs and Mobile Numbers
Candidates are barred from collecting voters’ or their family members’ national identity card (NID) numbers in an attempt to influence support for or against any candidate.
They are also prohibited from collecting voters’ mobile numbers for mobile financial service transactions.
The EC had taken precautionary measures over similar allegations during the February election.
The new code directly prohibits both practices in local government polls.
‘VIPs’ Barred from Campaigning
The rules bar “very important persons” from campaigning for local government candidates.
The list includes the prime minister, speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, chief whip, opposition leader, deputy leader of the house, deputy opposition leader, ministers of state, whips, deputy ministers or equivalent office-holders, MPs, city mayors and officials carrying out mayoral duties.
Except for the candidate concerned, sitting chairmen, mayors, administrators and other local government office-holders are also barred from campaigning.
Jail, Fines and Disqualification
Breaching the code can carry a jail term of up to six months as well as a fine.
The maximum fine has been raised from Tk 10,000 to Tk 50,000.
The Election Commission also retains the power to disqualify candidates for violating the code.
How the Rules Differ
In union council elections, one billboard is allowed per ward and microphone use is permitted from noon until sunset. Social media spending must be included in election expenses.
Upazila council candidates may use one billboard per union or municipal ward, up to a maximum of 20 across the constituency. Election camps are limited to one central camp, one per union and no more than one for every three municipal wards.
Municipality candidates may use one billboard per ward and campaign with microphones and vehicles from noon until sunset.
District council candidates may use one billboard per Thana or Upazila, but microphones are not allowed.
City corporation candidates may use one billboard per ward, while posters remain banned and other campaign materials are subject to size limits.
How the Code was Drawn Up
The EC published draft codes for all five tiers of local government elections in June and sought feedback from registered political parties and citizens.
The rules were finalised after the feedback was reviewed and were issued following vetting by the law ministry.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the local government conduct rules had been aligned with the laws and regulations governing parliamentary elections.
The commission plans to begin local government elections later this year, with preparations under way for the first phase of union council polls.
The EC is preparing elections in phases across 4,581 union councils, 61 district councils, 495 Upazila councils, 330 municipalities and 13 city corporations.
