Voters will have to leave their mobile phones before entering the polling booths to exercise their franchises in the national election slated for Dec 30, says the Election Commission.
Speaking at a media call on Saturday (Dec 15), Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said that only journalists and poll observers can keep mobile phones.
“Reporters can take pictures, but cannot speak on their phones inside the voting rooms. The same goes for polls observers,” he said.
Election Commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury said there have been instances where candidates asked voters to take a picture of the stamped ballot. “We have barred mobile phones in voting rooms to address these kinds of issues,” he said.
The Commission also said on Saturday that the media will be not allowed to broadcast live from the voting rooms and polling booths.
Reporters, however, can go for live telecast from the premises of the voting centres.
Journalists will be allowed to enter the polling stations in limited numbers, it said before adding that the Commission will determine how many reporters can enter a polling booth at a time.
No decision regarding law enforcement agencies’ suggestion to slow down internet speed and stop mobile banking operation has been taken, said the Commission.