With the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum set to be held on February 12, election campaigning has taken a new turn, as candidates increasingly rely on social media to reach voters amid a ban on posters.
For the first time, the Election Commission (EC) has prohibited the use of posters in election campaigns and imposed a range of restrictions on candidates, prompting political parties and independents to shift their focus to digital platforms.
BNP, Jamaat, National Citizen Party (NCP) and independent candidates, including Tasnim Zara, have been actively campaigning on social media, which is widely seen as an effective tool for engaging young voters.
With traditional street-level campaigning limited, candidates are using Facebook, Instagram and other platforms to promote party programmes, pledges and speeches from rallies. Several parties are also producing short campaign videos tailored for online audiences.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair told Dhaka Tribune that while the EC has set clear rules for banners, festoons and leaflets, social media remains largely unrestricted.
“Videos and information can be easily accessed on mobile phones. Young voters are especially active online, making social media the most effective medium for outreach,” he said.
Ariful Islam Adib, NCP candidate for Dhaka-18, said campaigning without posters has been challenging.
“There are some banners, but they are not very visible. We are campaigning manually and on Facebook. However, banners and festoons are more convenient for larger parties,” he said.
BNP media cell senior member Shairul Kabir Khan said political parties have largely accepted the EC’s decision to ban posters.
“Campaigning is now being done using technology and social media. BNP is active online, with rallies being live-streamed from multiple Facebook pages and various digital campaign materials being circulated,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that virtual campaigning lacks the emotional connection of traditional methods.
“Earlier, processions, posters and door-to-door campaigns created a direct bond with voters. That ‘heart-touch’ connection is missing online, even though social media outreach is extensive,” he added.
Asked about monitoring campaign expenditure on social media, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar said such costs would be reviewed after the election.
“It is not possible to monitor social media expenditure during the election period,” he said.
What the law says
According to Section 16 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, social media campaigning must follow specific rules:
Candidates or election agents must submit social media account details, including IDs and email addresses, to the returning officer
Artificial intelligence cannot be used for malicious purposes
Hate speech, misinformation, fabricated content or distortion of images is prohibited
Provocative language against opponents, women, minorities or any community is banned
Religious and ethnic sentiments may not be exploited
Content must be verified before publication
False, biased, obscene or misleading content intended to deceive or defame voters is strictly prohibited
As campaigning increasingly shifts online, the effectiveness of this digital-first ap