Journalists will be allowed to use mobile phones inside polling centers during the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum in Bangladesh. The decision was confirmed after a meeting between the Election Commission’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and Kazi Zebel, president of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED), at the Election Commission building in Agargaon on Monday.

Kazi Zebel said the Election Commission assured that the restriction on mobile phone use would not apply to journalists, recognizing the importance of mobile phones in their professional duties. The assurance came after RFED expressed concerns that such restrictions could hinder transparency and press freedom. The Commission also promised to issue an official notification soon.

Earlier, on Sunday, the Election Commission had issued a circular prohibiting anyone, including voters, from carrying mobile phones within 400 yards of polling centers, a move that drew protests from several journalist organizations.