Special Correspondent : The Election Commission (EC) has withdrawn its earlier restriction on carrying mobile phones within 400 yards of polling centres on election day. Speaking to reporters at the EC headquarters in Dhaka’s Agargaon today (9 February), EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said voters will be allowed to enter polling centres with mobile phones, and candidates and their agents may also carry phones and take photographs inside the centre if necessary.
However, no one will be permitted to take photos with mobile phone inside the secret ballot booths.Earlier, the EC imposed a strict ban on carrying mobile phones into polling centres during the upcoming referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election, scheduled for 12 February.
No such ban was imposed in any past election and the move has garnered sharp reaction from citizens and political leaders.While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.
