Key Traffic Restrictions:
According to a letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary Monir Hossain and sent to the Road Transport and Highways Division, the following bans will be in effect:
Motorcycles: A 72-hour total ban will be enforced starting from midnight on February 10 until midnight on February 13.
Heavier Vehicles: The movement of taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, and trucks will be prohibited for 24 hours, starting from midnight on February 11 until midnight on February 12 (Election Day).
Exemptions and Special Permits:
The Commission clarified that the restrictions would not apply to individuals or services essential to the election process or public welfare. Exemptions include:
Authorized Personnel: Journalists, election observers, and officials on duty (subject to valid ID and EC/Returning Officer approval).
Emergency Services: Vehicles involving law enforcement, the armed forces, ambulances, medical supplies, and the fire service.
Travelers: Passengers traveling to and from airports (provided they show a valid ticket or proof of travel) and long-distance buses.
Press & Infrastructure: Vehicles carrying newspapers and those belonging to BTRC-licensed telecommunication service providers.
Candidate Privileges:
Contestant candidates and their official election agents are permitted one light vehicle (such as a car, jeep, or microbus) each, provided they obtain prior authorization from the relevant Returning Officer.
Furthermore, the EC noted that major national highways, inter-district connectors, and essential transit routes entering or exiting metropolitan areas will remain exempt from these restrictions to maintain the supply of essential goods and facilitate urgent travel.
The 13th National Parliamentary Election and the Referendum are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 12.
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