Staff Reporter:
The Election Commission (EC) has issued detailed and strict guidelines on the appointment of election and polling agents, their duties and responsibilities, submission of election expenditure statements, and the prevention of violence and fraudulent voting to ensure that the upcoming national parliamentary election is held in a free, fair, and peaceful manner.
The directives have already been sent to all returning officers. The circular was issued on Thursday by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain.
According to the instructions, returning officers must arrange meetings with contesting candidates shortly after the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy.
At these meetings, candidates, their election agents, and polling agents must be clearly briefed on their duties and responsibilities under the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections 2025 and the Representation of the People Order 1972, as well as the legal provisions regarding election expenditure.
Appointment of Polling Agents
The circular states that under the Representation of the People Order, a candidate may appoint a qualified voter of the respective constituency as an election agent by submitting a written notice to the returning officer. If necessary, the agent may be changed or removed. If a candidate fails to appoint an election agent, the candidate himself or herself will be considered the election agent.
Candidates may appoint one polling agent for each polling booth. Polling agents must present their appointment letters to the presiding officer before the start of voting. Candidates or their agents will also be allowed to remain present during the counting of postal ballots.
Role of Agents During Voting and Counting
The EC emphasised that the presence and role of agents are crucial from the beginning of voting until the completion of vote counting. After counting, the presiding officer will provide certified copies of the vote count to the agents. If any agent refuses to sign or receive the documents, the matter must be recorded in writing. Candidates and their election agents will also be allowed to remain present during the consolidation of results.
Submission of Election Expenditure Statements Mandatory
The EC stated that all candidates—including winners, defeated candidates, and those elected uncontested—must submit election expenditure returns. Under the Election Conduct Rules, candidates must submit details of potential sources of expenditure, assets, and income-expenditure statements along with nomination papers.
Within 30 days of the publication of election results in the gazette, candidates must submit a complete expenditure return along with an affidavit to the returning officer, with a copy sent to the EC Secretariat. Even if no expenses were incurred, submission of a zero-expenditure return is mandatory.
The EC warned that spending funds from unauthorised sources, exceeding expenditure limits, or failing to submit expenditure returns will be treated as punishable offences, carrying penalties ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of seven years in prison, along with fines.
Call for Cooperation to Prevent Violence and Fake Voting
The Commission has called on candidates and agents to extend full cooperation in preventing election-related violence, intimidation, use of force, weapons or explosives, and fraudulent voting. It also warned of strict action against illegal campaigning, disorderly conduct, or breaches of ballot secrecy within 400 yards of polling centres.
Election Schedule
According to the election schedule, the deadline for submitting appeals is 9 January, while appeals will be resolved between 10 and 18 January. The final date for withdrawal of candidacy is 20 January. Returning officers will publish the final list of candidates and allocate symbols on 21 January. Election campaigning will begin on 22 January and may continue until 7:30am on 10 February. Voting will be held on 12 February.
