EC impose 3-day transport restrictions ahead of polls
Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) has imposed strict restrictions on vehicle movement across the country ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and the national referendum, aiming to ensure law and order and a smooth voting process.
Under the decision, motorcycle movement will remain suspended for a total of three days, while several categories of vehicles will be barred from operating on polling day.
The restrictions were announced in an official letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain on Tuesday and sent to the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division. According to the EC directive, the use of taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, and trucks will be prohibited from 12:00am to 12:00am on February 12, the day scheduled for voting.
In addition, motorcycle movement will be banned from midnight on February 10 until midnight on February 13, covering the period before and after the election.
The commission said the measures are intended to prevent disorder, curb illegal activities, and create a secure environment for voters, polling officials, and election personnel throughout the country.
However, the EC has allowed exemptions for a range of essential and authorised services. Vehicles belonging to law enforcement agencies, the armed forces, civil administration, and officially accredited election observers will be permitted to operate during the restricted period.
Emergency services will also remain outside the scope of the ban. These include ambulances, vehicles transporting medicines and medical supplies, and those carrying newspapers.
Vehicles used for telecommunication services will be treated as emergency services, allowing the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and its licensed operators to keep their vehicles on the road.
The directive further states that passengers traveling to and from airports will be allowed to use vehicles upon showing valid tickets. Long-distance passenger transport may also continue under specific conditions.
Candidates contesting the election will be permitted to use one vehicle each, along with one additional vehicle for their election agent, provided they have approval from the returning officer and display the required stickers.
Journalists, election observers, and vehicles engaged in urgent official duties will also be exempt. Motorcycles used by officials and personnel directly involved in election-related work will be allowed as well.
The EC has authorised local administrations to exercise discretion where necessary. District magistrates and metropolitan police commissioners may impose additional restrictions or relax existing ones based on local conditions and security needs.
Similarly, local authorities will have the power to ease restrictions on national highways, ports, inter-district routes, and key metropolitan connecting roads if circumstances require.
The Election Commission said these temporary measures are crucial to maintaining electoral discipline and ensuring that voting takes place in a peaceful and orderly manner nationwide.