Candidates violating electoral code with campaign after schedule
Under the code of conduct, no candidate or supporter is allowed to hold rallies, meetings, or seek votes before 22 January 2026. Any violation may result in the cancellation of candidacy
Highlights:
- Dhaka candidates march for votes before campaign window opens
- Leaflet distribution, street meetings held early outside Dhaka
- Some parties cancel pre-scheduled rallies
- Jamaat chief orders campaign materials removed within 48 hours
- EC warns early campaigning violates RPO and may prompt action
Candidates and their supporters in Dhaka and several districts continued campaigning yesterday for the 13th National Parliament Election despite clear restrictions in the electoral code of conduct, which prohibits any form of electioneering before the designated campaign period.
The election schedule was announced by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday.
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Under the code of conduct, no candidate or supporter is allowed to hold rallies, meetings, or seek votes before 22 January 2026. Any violation may result in the cancellation of candidacy.
Despite these restrictions, potential candidates in Dhaka and other districts started holding rallies, meetings and promotional activities soon after the announcement.
Information on over a hundred such incidents nationwide was gathered by The Business Standard.
According to the schedule, the official campaign period will run from 22 January until 7:30am on 10 February.
The Election Commission (EC) has stated that no campaigning is permitted outside this timeframe, including after the allocation of symbols.
Magistrates appointed to the constituencies are expected to act on breaches of the code.
Shortly after the announcement the same day, Saiful Alam Nirab, the BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-12 and former president of Juba Dal, marched in the Karwan Bazar area with hundreds of party activists.
During the march, he asked for votes for his party's election symbol, which is prohibited before the official campaign period.
Yesterday morning, Jamaat-e-Islami's candidate for the same constituency, Saiful Alam Khan Milan, organised a rally but later suspended it midway.
He said he halted the event to comply with the code of conduct, adding, "It is an astonishing ordinance that has been issued, stating that electoral meetings cannot be held, and party symbols cannot be mentioned. Jamaat-e-Islami always abides by the law. Therefore, I declare this meeting suspended out of respect for the law."
Meanwhile, in Dhaka's Farmgate, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the party's "Plan to Build the Nation" event at the Krishibid Institution, where discussions centred on election messaging and appeals for votes, although the event banner did not explicitly mention campaigning.
Later in the afternoon, former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan joined a victory rally from Kalabagan to Dhanmondi.
Violations were also reported outside Dhaka.
In Noakhali's Hatiya, NCP leader Hannan Masud campaigned for the Shapla Koli symbol with his supporters.
In Bagerhat-3, Jamaat candidate Sheikh Abdul Wadud conducted public outreach yesterday morning in Ward 3 of the municipality, where he and his supporters distributed leaflets.
In Barishal-6, BNP candidate Abul Hossain Khan held a street meeting in Padrisivpur Union, attended by several hundred people. Leaflets were distributed during the gathering.
In Gaibandha's Gobindaganj, Kamdia union BNP organised a yard meeting in Ward 2 for their party symbol.
Mohammad Shamim Kaysar Lincoln, the BNP candidate for Gaibandha-4, attended and took part in election activities.
In Brahmanbaria-4, a meeting was held in support of BNP candidate Mushfiqur Rahman's election symbol, involving leaders and supporters from various BNP-affiliated organisations in Kasba's Mehari union.
In Netrokona-2, BNP candidate Md Anwarul Haque participated in an exchange of views organised by the Amtala Radha-Gobinda Temple Committee where he sought votes for the his election symbol.
Candidates from BNP, Jamaat, NCP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and independent contenders were also seen seeking prayers and votes among worshippers in mosques before and after Jumma prayers in Dhaka and other districts.
Amid widespread violations, some parties suspended pre-scheduled rallies in compliance with the code of conduct.
Jamaat cancelled all pending rallies and directed members to remove campaign materials within 48 hours.
The party's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said, "We are prepared to offer all reasonable cooperation to ensure the announced election schedule is fair and successful. I urge all responsible personnel and activists across the country to remove various campaign materials."
Similar suspensions were confirmed at several locations in Dhaka, along with the suspension of an NCP rally.
Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed reiterated that no campaigning and rallies are permitted before the official period begins.
"Those who are doing so are violating the rules of the RPO. Our appointed magistrates will look into these matters. If they receive complaints and notice the violations, they will take action accordingly," he told TBS.
