'Yes' vote banners still visible despite EC ban on govt employees campaigning

Following a Thursday letter from the Election Commission, instructing the Cabinet Division to prohibit government employees from campaigning for or against the referendum, some "Yes" campaign billboards were removed from key government offices, including the main gate of the Secretariat in Dhaka. 

However, banners and posters supporting the "Yes" vote still remained at the main entrances of several ministries and government offices yesterday. The situation outside Dhaka reflected a similar pattern. 

In some district offices, banners and posters promoting the "Yes" vote have been taken down, but many government offices across the country still displayed such materials at their gates.

In certain offices, old billboards supporting the "Yes" vote were replaced with new boards outlining the proposed changes through the referendum, without mentioning the "Yes" or "No" options.

The Election Commission's letter to the Cabinet Division on Thursday stated that government officials may raise public awareness about the referendum but cannot campaign in favour of or against any option.

On Thursday, referring to Section 21 of the Referendum Ordinance-2025 and Article 86 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO)-1972, the Election said any attempt by a government employee to influence voters in favour of "Yes" or "No" would be treated as a punishable offence.

When asked whether the Cabinet Division had acted on the directive, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid told TBS on Friday that the Commission's instructions would be implemented. 

"All levels of government officials will be formally informed about the directive regarding campaigning for or against the referendum. The matter has already been widely reported in the media," he said.

An additional secretary in the Cabinet Division confirmed that the letter had been forwarded to various ministries on Thursday for implementation.

On Friday morning, it was observed that banners promoting the "Yes" vote were being removed from the Secretariat's main gate. Workers said they were acting under the instructions of ministry officials. 

Despite this, some "Yes" banners remained on the wall at the second gate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of Thursday evening.

Banners supporting the "Yes" vote were also visible at the gates of Bangladesh Bank, most government banks and financial institutions in Motijheel, and other public offices. 

Outside Dhaka

In Chittagong, several government offices still displayed banners promoting the "Yes" vote on Friday. 

At the multistorey district council building in Anderkilla, Chattogram, large banners encouraged citizens to vote "Yes" in the referendum. 

One banner read: "Referendum 2026, Parliamentary Election: The Key to the Country is in Your Hands – Vote 'Yes' for Change." Another listed proposed changes under the referendum, explaining what would happen with a "Yes" or "No" vote.

At the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) laboratory in Baluchara, Chattogram, a banner highlighting positive outcomes of a "Yes" vote remained in place. 

Similar promotional materials were also observed at government and semi-autonomous offices, including Janata Bank at the Chattogram Press Club, the deputy commissioner's office, the divisional commissioner's office, and the election commission office.

Outside the offices of district administrators and divisional commissioners, posters encouraged citizens to express consent on specific constitutional amendments through the referendum. 

In Khulna city, large billboards outlined the changes expected from the referendum without mentioning the "Yes" or "No" vote, using the slogan: "The key to the country is in your hands."

Bangladesh will hold a referendum on the same day as the national election on 12 February, asking voters to cast a "Yes" or "No" vote on the July National Charter and the reform proposals contained within it.

The Election Commission yesterday directed government officials and employees to stop campaigning for either "Yes" or "No" in the referendum slated for 12 February, warning that such activities would constitute a punishable offence.