Political Opposition Mounts Against Election Commission’s Mobile Phone Ban

In separate statements today, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the 11-party alliance led by the National Citizen Party (NCP) condemned the move as "undemocratic" and a deliberate attempt to facilitate electoral engineering.

Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, stated that the decision creates an atmosphere of fear and could discourage voters from turning up at the booths. Meanwhile, NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah and DUCSU VP Sadiq Kaiyum labeled the restriction a "Media Blackout" and "Neo-Fascism," arguing that it effectively kills citizen journalism. They contend that without smartphones, voters and observers will be unable to document or report irregularities, essentially shielding potential malpractice from public scrutiny.

The Election Commission has defended the policy, stating it is necessary to prevent "vote trading" and the photography of marked ballots. According to the EC’s February 8 circular, only the Presiding Officer, the Police In-Charge, and two Ansar members authorized to use the "Nirbachan Surakkha 2026" app are permitted to carry mobile devices inside the perimeter. Despite the mounting protests and calls for an immediate reversal, the EC has already dispatched formal letters to Returning Officers to enforce the ban strictly on election day.