The Election Commission has moved to finalize a new code of conduct aimed at ensuring all candidates enjoy equal opportunity during the upcoming national election.
The draft, currently under internal review, is expected to introduce stricter regulations on campaign spending and greater discipline across all forms of electioneering, including social media, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said following a meeting of the committee on constituency re-demarcation (electoral area), political party registration, and election preparedness at Nirbachan Bhaban on Monday.
He said the guiding principle behind the proposed code is the creation of a truly level playing field. “We’re working on a code that allows all candidates to campaign equally and fairly,” he said, adding that the goal is to minimize campaign expenditure while maintaining order throughout the process.
The draft, he said, is nearly complete and will be placed before the full commission for approval before being published.
The commissioner also confirmed that the majority of recommendations from the Election System Reform Commission have been incorporated, along with additional measures drawn from past experiences with local elections and media-related issues. “We expect this to be an excellent and effective code of conduct,” he said.
Among the key additions is a clause that seeks to regulate campaign activities on social media—now an increasingly contentious arena. “There are clear provisions to ensure online campaigning remains within acceptable limits,” Anwarul said, noting that the draft includes provisions for strong penalties in case of violations. “We’re committed to strict enforcement. There will be no leniency.”
Significantly, the code is expected to be finalized before formal consultations with political parties. When asked about this, Anwarul downplayed the issue. “We’ll engage with all stakeholders at the appropriate time. The situation on the ground will dictate the nature of that engagement,” he said.
He also confirmed that preparations are being made with December in mind as the likely election timeline.
However, one unresolved matter is the redrawing of constituency boundaries. “The proposal for boundary revisions has been sent to the government. It hasn’t been approved yet,” he said. “If the legal amendments are passed, we’ll act accordingly. Otherwise, we’ll proceed using the existing boundaries.”