Dhaka, Jan 19 (V7N) — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has issued a set of seven-point instructions for the election campaign of its party-nominated candidates contesting the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections.

The directives were announced in a notification issued on Sunday (January 18). According to the notification, full-scale election campaigning will commence from January 22.

The party has urged its nominated candidates to strictly follow all existing laws, rules and regulations related to election campaigning, particularly concerning the use of banners, billboards, festoons, handbills or leaflets, portraits and voter slips.

The seven-point instructions are as follows:

  1. The maximum allowable sizes have been fixed as follows: banners — 10 feet by 4 feet; billboards — 16 feet by 9 feet; festoons — 18 inches by 24 inches; handbills or leaflets — 8.27 inches by 11.69 inches; pictures (portraits) — 60 centimeters by 45 centimeters; and voter slips — 12 centimeters by 8 centimeters.

  2. No posters of any kind may be used during the election campaign.

  3. Banners, festoons, handbills, leaflets, portraits and voter slips must be printed only in black and white. However, colored writing and images may be used on billboards and on social media platforms.

  4. Only the portrait of the current party leader, along with the candidate’s own photograph and electoral symbol, may be displayed on banners, festoons, handbills and leaflets.

  5. No banner, handbill, leaflet or festoon may be used unless it clearly mentions the name, address and date of printing of the printing press.

  6. A candidate may not use more than 20 billboards in any single constituency.

  7. The use of drones, quadcopters or any similar devices is strictly prohibited during election campaigns and on polling day.

Party leaders said the instructions aim to ensure discipline, fairness and compliance with electoral laws during the campaign period. BNP leaders and activists have been asked to cooperate fully in implementing the guidelines to avoid any violation of election rules.

END/SMA/AJ