Government officials are not allowed to seek votes: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has issued directives for government officials and employees regarding the referendum scheduled to be held on 12 February 2026. The EC has instructed that government officials are not allowed to seek votes for Yes or No during the referendum. If government staffers seek votes for either side, they will be subjected to legal actions, the Election Commission has described in a letter sent to Returning Officers across Bangladesh.

The copies of the above letter have been dispatched to the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Adviser's Principal Secretary and some other relevant divisions, according to an order circulated on Thursday (29 January 2026). The order from the Election Commission was issued in the middle of debates about government officers' involvement in propagating for Yes and No votes. The referendum and the 13th parliamentary elections both are going to be organized on 12th February 2026.

The letter from the Election Commission cites Section 21 of 2025, Representation of the People Order and Section 86 of 1972. These laws make it prohibited for people belonging to government jobs to call upon voters to cast their ballots for any particular side. Any breach of these laws will be regarded as a punishable office and it will lead to stern measures against the perpetrators. The Election Commission has stated that government officials' bias towards Yes or No can influence the results of the referendum. The Election Commission has asked all authorities concerned to exercise this order effectively and impartially.