Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has issued a journalist policy ahead of the upcoming 11th National Parliament elections. It has strengthened measures to prevent journalists from using motorcycles to gather news.
The policy states that journalists can enter the polling station and take photos, videos, and gather information with the permission of the presiding officer. However, multiple journalists cannot enter the same polling booth at the same polling station at the same time. Even live broadcasts or social media coverage from the polling booth are not allowed.
The policy, issued under the signature of Election Commission Joint Secretary (Public Relations Wing) SM Asaduzzaman on December 21, provides more than a dozen guidelines to journalists. The policy also states that action will be taken against the news organization concerned in case of violation or deviation as per the election law, rules and code.
The policy has already been sent to all returning officers for the parliamentary elections. It states that the role of the media in conducting elections in a fair, free and peaceful environment is important. It is necessary to provide assistance so that journalists can easily and without any hindrance collect election news at various times, including on polling day, but this must be done in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable during the election, voting and vote counting. Persons authorized by the Election Commission will be able to enter the polling station. For this, journalists will be provided with special cards from the Election Commission to collect news from the polling station. Returning officers will issue cards for their respective areas. The returning officer can authorize the assistant returning officer to issue cards to journalists from the concerned upazila. In addition, journalists who will go from Dhaka to collect election news in different parts of the country will be given cards by the Election Commission. Journalists and observers can use vehicles approved by the Election Commission and bearing approval indicator stickers. No stickers will be issued for using motorcycles.
This is the first time that journalists have not been given motorcycle stickers. However, stickers will be given if they use other vehicles. The Election Commission has already banned riding motorcycles during voting. In this case, from midnight of December 29 to midnight of January 2, and in some cases for longer periods, there will be a ban on riding motorcycles or similar vehicles. As a result, journalists will not be able to use motorcycles for a total of 4 days before and after voting in the 11th National Parliament election.
On election day, representatives of mass media from Dhaka travel to different areas on motorcycles with their correspondents to collect news from various polling stations.
The policy further states:
Journalists holding valid cards issued by the # Election Commission will be able to enter the polling station directly.
# After entering the polling station, you may collect information, take photographs, and record videos of the voting process by informing the presiding officer. However, you may not collect or record photos of the secret room under any circumstances.
# Journalists from multiple media outlets will not be able to enter the same polling booth at the same time.
# Live broadcasts from inside the polling booth are prohibited.
# If you want to broadcast live from inside the polling station, you must do so at a safe distance from the polling booth.
# No obstruction of the voting process shall be allowed under any circumstances.
# Journalists will be able to watch the counting in the vote counting room, but will not be able to broadcast it live.
Direct broadcasts from the # polling booth on any social media, including Facebook, will not be permitted.
# Please refrain from any actions that disrupt the voting process at the polling station.
Journalists at # polling stations will follow the lawful instructions of the presiding officer.
# cannot interfere with the work of officials related to elections.
# cannot touch or remove any type of electoral material.
# will refrain from any kind of campaigning or hate speech for or against any candidate or political party while gathering news for the election.
# will comply with the election laws and regulations for conducting elections.
Click to view the policy.
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