Voters, polling agents and ‘other persons’ will not be allowed to carry mobile phones  inside polling centres in the upcoming Zila Parishad polls, Election Commission (EC) sources said yesterday. The EC sources said the presiding officers have been instructed to comply with the directive during the Zila Parishad polls in 61 districts across the country on December 28 and a circular has been issued recently in this regard. Besides, the EC has decided to keep standby five percent additional presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers against the existing number to address the shortage of manpower during elections, if needed. EC has also directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to possibly provide female assistant presiding officers and female polling officers at polling centres designated for women.