Election Commission imposes vehicle restrictions ahead of polls

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has imposed restrictions on taxis, pickups, microbuses, and trucks from 12am on 11 February to 12am on 12 February  2026, ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum. Motorcycles will also face restrictions from 12am on 10 February to 12am on 13 February 2026.

The restrictions will be relaxed for the following vehicles: law enforcement and armed forces; administration and approved observers; vehicles engaged in emergency services or carrying medicines, health-related supplies, and newspapers; vehicles transporting passengers or relatives to and from airports (with tickets or relevant proof); long-distance passenger vehicles; one vehicle per contesting candidate and one for each candidate's election agent (with proper appointment and identity documents, and Election Commission sticker); journalists, observers, or vehicles used for election work with EC approval; motorcycles used by officials, employees, or others for election duties; and vehicles of telecom operators licensed by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The EC has authorised the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to allow exceptions on national highways, ports, inter-district or metropolitan entry/exit routes, and other key roads.

Additionally, district magistrates and metropolitan police commissioners have been given authority to impose or relax restrictions on other vehicles according to the schedule during the election and referendum period.

The announcement was made through a government notification signed by Al-Amin Md Nurul Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division.