EC bans posters, drones in polls campaign; tough rules on AI misuse

Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, scheduled to be held in February next year, the Election Commission (EC) has issued a code of conduct for political parties and candidates, outlining what they can and cannot do during the campaign. The guidelines include a ban on the use of drones and posters in election campaigns, prohibition of campaigning abroad, restriction on installing more than 20 billboards, and a requirement to announce election manifestos on a single stage. Parties and candidates must also sign a pledge to comply with the code of conduct, the EC said. Any breach of the code may lead to up to six months in jail, a fine of Tk 1.5 lakh for candidates, and an additional Tk 1.5 lakh fine for the political party concerned. The Election Commission last night issued a gazette titled "Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025," signed by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. The guideline empowers the EC to cancel a candidate's nomination if an investigation finds any violation of the electoral code of conduct. The code of conduct was finalised and approved at the EC's ninth commission meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, on August 7 this year. Under the new code, strict rules will apply to election campaigns on social media, including a ban on the malicious use of artificial intelligence (AI) and prohibitions on posters and drones during campaigning. For the first time, posters have been completely banned from election campaigns. Candidates will be allowed to install a maximum of 20 billboards in their constituencies, each measuring no more than 16 feet in length and 9 feet in width. Only digital billboards are permitted to use lighting, and electricity may be used for this purpose. However, decorative lighting is strictly prohibited, according to the code. The code of conduct also requires all candidates to announce their election manifestos from a single stage, while both parties and candidates must submit a written pledge to comply with the code. The returning officer will designate a day for all candidates in a constituency to read out their manifestos or declarations together. The guideline also introduces several new provisions based on the recommendations of the Election System Reform Commission and is aligned with the 2008 version of the code of conduct. Campaigning on Social Media: What Can and Can't Be Done Candidates, their election agents, or anyone acting on their behalf may campaign through social media, but before doing so, they must submit details of their online platforms -- including the name of the platform, account ID, email address, and other identifying information -- to the returning officer. The code strictly prohibits the use of AI for deceptive or manipulative purposes in any election-related activity. Creating or spreading harmful content, such as hate speech, misinformation, altered images, or fabricated election materials, is also banned. Candidates and their supporters are barred from using hate speech, personal attacks, or inflammatory language against rivals, women, minorities, or any other community. The code also forbids exploiting religious or ethnic sentiments for political or electoral advantage. Political parties, candidates, or any person acting on behalf of a candidate cannot create, publish, promote, or share any content -- whether on social media or other platforms, in general form or edited, or using AI -- that is false, misleading, biased, hateful, obscene, vulgar, or defamatory, and intended to mislead voters or damage the character or reputation of any candidate or individual, regardless of gender.