Election rules take back seat as parties, candidates defy ban on loudspeaker after 8pm

As the parliamentary elections draw near, the campaign trail is heating up – and not just in rhetoric. Across the country, candidates are throwing the rulebook out the window, ignoring regulations on rallies, loudspeakers, and campaign materials.

The Election Code of Conduct clearly states that microphones and loudspeakers must be switched off after 8pm, yet high-profile leaders like BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqul Rahman have continued to take to the stage at late-night gatherings. Others are following suit, flouting rules by plastering streets with posters, PVC banners, and other plastic materials, turning parts of the cityscape into a riot of campaign clutter.

In Lakshmipur, NCP convener Nahid Islam addressed a rally at 9:30pm, while in Rangpur, NCP member-secretary Akhtar Hossain also spoke at a late-night meeting, blatantly violating the code. On Sunday, Tarique Rahman reportedly spoke at rallies in Narayanganj at 3am, having delivered a speech at another rally around 5am earlier. On Monday night, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqul Rahman addressed a 9pm rally, while BNP leader Mirza Abbas spoke at a late-night event in Naya Paltan.

The 2025 electoral code of conduct spells out that registered parties, candidates, or their representatives may only use loudspeakers between 2pm and 8pm, with a maximum of three loudspeakers per rally and a volume cap of 60 decibels. While ordinary microphones for campaigning are allowed, any breach of these limits counts as a violation.

Jesmin Tuli, former additional secretary of the Election Commission, told The Business Standard, "Using microphones after 8pm at rallies is a straightforward legal violation. The law lays out the penalties, and the EC is the authority to enforce them."

Yet despite the clear rules, banned campaign materials continue to be displayed across the capital. In Dhaka-15, BNP candidate Shafiqul Islam Khan has hung colored polymer banners across Shewrapara, Kazipara, and Pirerbag. In Dhaka-8, NCP candidate Nasiruddin Patwary and BNP candidate Mirza Abbas have also put up large, colourful banners in Banglamotor, Eskaton, and surrounding areas.

In Dhaka-17, BNP chairman Tarique Rahman has relied on colored plastic banners and laminated posters in Gulshan and Bashantek, while Jamaat candidate SM Khaliduzzaman has used similar banned materials displaying his images and symbols. Observers warn that this continued use of prohibited banners and late-night rallies not only violates environmental and electoral rules but also raises questions about enforcement ahead of the elections.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud added, "Any violation should be reported in writing to the EC. The Inquiries Committee will investigate and take necessary action."

To crack down on violations, the EC has set up Electoral Inquiry Committees in every constituency, tasked with handling complaints. Offenders could face up to six months in prison, a fine of Tk150,000, or both, while political parties can be fined up to Tk200,000. Persistent offenders even risk having their candidacy cancelled under RPO regulations.