EC urges equal media coverage for all candidates

The Election Commission (EC) has called for equal opportunities for all candidates in election coverage on Bangladesh Television and private TV channels, report agencies.

Creating a congenial environment is crucial for free, fair, and credible elections, said an EC statement signed by Md Ruhul Amin Mollick, director (public relations) of the organization, on Wednesday.

State and private media can play a key role by ensuring equal access to information for all candidates, providing balanced coverage in election-related programmes, interviews, talk shows, and dialogues, the statement said.

All television channels and other media outlets have been requested to exercise caution, provide equal opportunities to all candidates and avoid broadcasting any remarks or statements that demean or disparage any party or candidate, said the statement.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has instructed the relevant authorities to send SMS alerts to all government officials and employees, encouraging them to register for voting through postal ballots ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and the referendum on the July Charter.

The instruction was given in a letter signed by KM Ali Newaz, Additional Secretary of the Election Commission and Project Director of the OCV-SDI project, on Wednesday.

According to the letter, government officials and employees working inside the country, as well as officers and employees of the armed forces who receive salaries through the iBAS++ system, will be able to cast their votes through an IT-supported postal ballot after completing registration via the "Postal Vote BD" app.