Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has issued guidelines for media workers in collecting election news for national and local elections at least eight months before the twelfth parliamentary elections.
The commission imposed some restrictions on vehicles in constituencies on polling days. .
According to the new guidelines, the Election Commission will not allow the use of motorcycles for journalists, even though they have approved the use of vehicles with EC car stickers.
The policy was issued on Wednesday signed by the assistant director of EC's public relations wing Md Ashadul Haque.
According to the EC's journalist policy, only Election Commission approved card holders can go to the polling stations and collect election news in accordance with the rules and regulations. In that case, they have to follow at least a dozen instructions.
No one can broadcast news on social media including Facebook directly from the polling booth.
This policy will be applicable for general elections and by-elections of Jatiya Sangsad, upazila parishad, city corporation, zilla parishad, municipal council and union parishad.
If a journalist does not comply with this directive, the commission can cancel their EC-related journalist's pass.
Besides, action can be taken against the concerned journalists or institutions according to the election laws and rules.
Clarifying the issue of media and journalists, the policy outlines approval process, application process, approval and issuance of card, support staff, vehicle sticker, journalist card, notification of polling officials, and instructions to be followed by journalists.
Centrally and locally from EC's public relations wing, returning officers take care of these issues, including issuance of press cards and vehicle stickers.
Media and journalists
The term "journalist" means declared and regularly published daily, weekly, fortnightly, etc; authorized television channels – which broadcast from Bangladesh; authorized online news portal; approved internet based television; refers to freelance journalists (holding a press pass from the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology), journalists working for international news organizations (authorized by the Directorate of Information) and foreign journalists (journalists from other countries through the Directorate of Information).
Approval Process
Central journalists, capital-based media and journalists are considered as central journalists. The passes and car stickers of these journalists are given by the Public Relations Division of the Election Commission Secretariat.
Besides, local journalist refers to the local representative of newspaper and national daily, television, online, IPTV published from the respective constituencies/districts/upazilas.
The cards and car stickers of these journalists at the local level will be given by the concerned returning officer or the officer authorized by him.
Application Process
At least three days before the polling day, the application signed by the News Editor/Chief Reporter/Correspondent/Bureau-Head/District Representative on the official pad of the concerned media should be submitted to the Election Commission Secretariat or the Returning Officer.
Number of journalists given assignment from the concerned organization - their name, journalist identity card/PID of the organization, one copy of passport and one copy of stamp size colour photograph should be attached with the application.
Car sticker
Journalists will be provided with a reasonable number of vehicle stickers for travel. However, the use of motorcycles will not be allowed. When a vehicle sticker is issued to a journalist, the serial number of the sticker should be entered in the register.
What journalists can and cannot do
Journalists holding a valid card issued by the Election Commission can directly enter the polling station.
After entering the polling station, they can collect information, take pictures and record videos of the voting process by informing the presiding officer. However, they cannot take pictures of the inside of the secret room.
More than two media journalists cannot enter the same polling booth at the same time and cannot stay in the polling booth for more than 10 minutes.
Election officials, election agents or voters cannot be interviewed in the polling booth.
There can be no live broadcast from inside the polling booth.
If anyone want to broadcast live from inside the polling station, they have to do it at a safe distance from the polling station. The polling process cannot be obstructed in any way.
Journalists can watch the counting of votes in the counting room, take pictures, but cannot broadcast live.
No social media, including Facebook, can be broadcasted directly from polling booths.
Refrain from doing anything that disrupts the polling process of the centre.
Journalists at the polling stations shall follow the lawful instructions of the presiding officer.
None can interfere in the work of election officials.
They may not touch or remove any election materials.
During the collection of election news, journalists shall refrain from any kind of campaign or hate campaign for or against the candidate or any political party and shall comply with the election laws and regulations to assist in the election process.