The Election Commission on Wednesday approved the draft code of conduct for political parties and candidates along with the polling centre establishment and management policy for both parliamentary and local government elections.
The approval, aimed at guiding the forthcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, was confirmed during the EC鈥檚 fifth meeting held at its headquarters Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
The meeting, chaired by chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, was attended by the four election commissioners, EC secretary and other relevant officials.
Following the meeting, election commissioner Abul Fazl Md Sanaullah told reporters that policy-level approval was granted for the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025; the Polling Centre Establishment and Management Policy for Parliamentary Elections, 2025; and the Polling Centre Establishment and Management Policy for Local Government Elections, 2025.
A key inclusion under the proposed code was that election campaigning would fall under the direct supervision of the Election Commission.
Political parties and candidates were required to submit declarations of commitment to adhere to the rules outlined in the code.
The draft policy also abolished the existing practice of forming district-level committees comprising the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to determine and manage polling centre locations.
Instead, these responsibilities would now lie with the EC-appointed officials, a move aimed at ensuring neutrality and reducing political influence.
Abul Fazl said that while the draft policies received in-principle approval, their finalisation remained contingent upon the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Commission and other relevant amendments.
鈥楨xtensive discussions were held on the proposed rules and policies. The drafts have been approved at the policy level and will be further reviewed by the relevant committee before being presented again to the commission,鈥� he said.
Among other updates, the new code introduced several elements, including regulation of campaigning on the social media and formal certification of candidates and political parties.
Regarding Electronic Voting Machines, the commissioner confirmed that all EVM-related provisions were withdrawn, as it would no longer be used in the coming election.
Once all reforms were finalised, the approved code and policies would be gazetted, he said.