The campaigning for the next national polls, only a couple of days away, is going to end today across the country. All candidates and their supporters, especially those of the Awami League (AL)-led Grand Alliance and the BNP- led Jatiya Oikyafront, were extremely busy to reach voters in the last few hours of the election campaign. Unlike the previous polls, almost all the registered political parties are contesting the election this time.   Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) said the candidates are not allowed to carry out any election campaign or hold any meetings from 28 December till January 1.  

According to Provision 78 of the Representation of the People Order 1972, there will be no meeting, rally and procession before 48 hours of election day and till 48 hours after the election.

So, there must not be any meeting or rally from 8am on December 28 to 4pm of January 1.

The EC expects that the candidates contesting in all the 299 constituencies across the country would follow the electoral code of conduct. Besides the bar on election campaign, there are restrictions on the plying of motorised vehicles for three days.  

Following the directives of the EC, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in a notification yesterday banned the plying of motorised vehicles from 12:01am on election day. The ban will be in effect for 24 hours. The restriction will be applicable to motorised three-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, motor bikes, cabs, microbuses, jeeps, pickup vans, private cars, buses, trucks, tempos, easy bikes and locally manufactured vehicles.

In addition, there is a special ban on the plying of motorcycles from December 28 midnight to January 1 midnight.

However, the EC yesterday issued a notice that the motorcycles of  journalists will be kept out of the restriction. But journalists have to paste special stickers of the commission on their vehicles.

Meanwhile, the BTRA notification said the ban will be relaxed for the candidates, their agents, local and foreign observers, media vehicles having approvals from returning officers and ID cards.

Besides, the vehicles of all officials engaged in election duty and law enforcement agencies, ambulances, fire service and civil defence, electricity, gas and telecom will be kept out of purview of the restriction.

The candidates started their formal campaign in their respective constituencies after getting the electoral symbols on December 10.

All AL-nominated candidates were extremely busy in the election campaign. They dominated the election campaign across the country after getting electoral symbols.

On the other hand, BNP  candidates  said they could not perform well in the election campaign as they were restricted by ruling partymen and law enforcers.

The BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront placed

its complaints to the EC and returning officers that their candidates had come under attack during the election campaign. On its part, the EC said it had investigated the allegations and taken action whenever applicable.

Election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury yesterday told the media that they have almost completed the election preparations.  Asked about the BNP complaints, Hossain said: “We have taken action in case of vaild complains. Everything is under control.”

Out of the 300 parliamentary seats, the election would be held in 299 constituencies. In Gaibandha-3, the election has been postponed due to the demise of a candidate. The election to this constituency would be held on January 27.

Voting by ballots would be held in 293 constituencies, while electronic voting machines would be used in six constituencies for the first time.

At least 1,800 candidates would contest the polls in the 299 constituencies. Among them, around 1,750 candidates are nominated by different polical parties, while the rest are independent candidates.

Before ending the election campaign, supporters and workers of different candidates kept the divisional cities abuzz slogans in favour of their respective party symbols.

Leaders and supporters of the AL-led Grand Alliance have set up election campaigning offices and decorated campaign gates in every constituency. Songs referring to the names of the candidates are being played on loudspeakers from dawn to midnight. The ruling party candidates also carried out digital campaigning to reach each and every voter in the country ahead of the polls.