'Media Personnel Guidelines': EC responds to concerns, pledges to make it journalist-friendly

The Election Commission (EC) has assured journalists and media professionals that it will thoroughly review the proposals they submitted and work towards formulating a more journalist and media friendly policy for those covering national and local government elections.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud gave the came during a meeting held today (4 September) between the EC and the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at the Election Commission headquarters.

Earlier, on 23 July, the EC issued the "Media Personnel Guidelines-2025," which introduced several restrictions, including limitations on live broadcasting and photographing inside polling booths. In response, journalists submitted detailed proposals urging the commission to reconsider these regulations.

"You have submitted clear and specific proposals in writing… We will carefully review your suggestions," Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud stated during the meeting.

"We also want to ensure that your work becomes easier and that the flow of information remains unrestricted," he added.

Masud further said, "We will review your proposed policy and implement whatever facilitates your work, benefits all parties involved, serves the public interest, and ensures a transparent and fair election."

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said, "Your proposed policy includes many thoughtful and well-considered points. The Election Commission welcomes your input, as we all share the same goal — to collaborate in conducting free and fair elections."

EC Secretary Akhtar Hossain expressed gratitude on behalf of the Commission and Secretariat, saying, "I sincerely thank you for your valuable opinions, and I assure you that the flow of information will continue unhindered from our side."

Under the "Media Personnel Guidelines-2025," accredited journalists holding valid ID cards are permitted to enter polling centres but must inform the presiding officer beforehand before collecting information, photos, or videos. The guidelines prohibit taking photographs inside polling booths, restrict the number of journalists inside a booth to two at any time, and limit their stay to a maximum of 10 minutes. Additionally, journalists are barred from interviewing election officials, agents, or voters inside the polling booth.

However, RFED leaders voiced their concerns over these restrictions, warning that if the guidelines remain unchanged, the free flow of information will be significantly hampered. They cautioned that such stringent rules could undermine the Election Commission's broader efforts to prevent electoral irregularities.

In light of these concerns, RFED proposed several revisions, including removing the requirement for accredited journalists to notify the presiding officer upon entering polling centres, allowing exceptions to the ban on photographing inside polling booths in cases of suspected electoral irregularities, permitting at least five journalists to enter a polling booth simultaneously and introducing provisions to hold accountable anyone who obstructs media representatives during election coverage.

At the event, RFED President Kazi Emad Uddin (Zebel) presented a number of proposals to amendment the draft Policy Guidelines 2025 for Journalists and Media Professionals Covering Elections.

Kazi Emad Uddin (Zebel) stressed that all information related to the electoral process - from candidacy to the announcement of results - should remain accessible to journalists.