The EC said both the RPO and the Referendum Ordinance prohibit using state authority, official position, or public resources to sway voters’ decisions. The EC said it will maintain strict oversight of government officials’ conduct in the run-up to polling day, particularly as the parliamentary election and referendum are being held simultaneously. “Referendum outcomes must reflect the will of the people, not the influence of the state,” an EC official said. The commission has instructed returning officers and field-level election officials to report any violations of the code of conduct involving government employees. The EC has repeatedly stressed that maintaining institutional neutrality is essential to preserving public trust in both the parliamentary election and the referendum.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC