Election campaign: Code of conduct published in gazette, banning posters-drones, AI-social media misuse
The Election Commission has published the Code of Conduct in an official gazette, imposing a ban on the use of posters and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media in election campaigns.
According to the new code of conduct, no one also can carry out election campaigns in religious places of worship like mosques, temples, pagodas and churches as well as the government offices or educational institutions.
The official gazette on the code of conduct for the political parties and candidates in the parliamentary election rule 2025 was published on Monday night ahead of the 13th parliamentary election to be held in early February 2026.
No Poster
As per the code of conduct, any type of poster cannot be used in the election campaign, while no pamphlets, leaflets, handbills, festoons or banners made from non-biodegradable materials such as rexine, polythene, plastic or any other material that is harmful to the environment shall be used.
A candidate cannot install more than 20 billboards in an election area (constituency) and a billboard shall be maximum 16 feet by 9 feet in size.
Misuse of AI-Social Media:
According to the code of conduct, Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot be used for malicious purposes in any election-related matter, including campaigning.
The name and account ID, e-mail ID and other identifying information of a candidate or his election agent or party related social media must be submitted to the Returning Officer before the commencement of the campaign.
As per the code, all types of harmful content, including hate speech, misinformation, disfiguring someone's face and fabricated election-related information, shall not be created and disseminated as well as hate speech, personal attacks, or inflammatory language targeting opponents, women, minorities, or any other group of people shall not be used in the social media.
The punishment for violating this code has been made stricter as the maximum punishment has been proposed to increase up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 150,000 instead of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 50,000.
Use of helicopter-drones:
Only the president and the general secretary or persons holding equivalent posts of a political party will also be allowed to use helicopters in the campaign but no leaflet, banner or other type of campaign matters can be displayed, distributed or dropped using the copter.
But only the chief of a party or the persons holding equivalent posts could use helicopters in the past.
The code of conduct banned the use of any type of drone, quadcopter or such type of machine in the election campaign and the balloting hours.
Loud Speakers
The sound from mike (microphone) or loudspeaker used in election campaigns shall not exceed 60 decibel and the mike or other sound amplifying machine must be used from 2pm to 8pm every day.
The violation of the code of conduct could lead to cancellation of the candidature as a provision incorporated in the code alongside the RPO.
The Election Commission in September 2025 finalised the code of conduct but the gazette has been published now after an amendment ordinance on the Representation of the People Order 1972, promulgated on November 4 last.