The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has directed authorities to ensure uninterrupted telecommunications across the country during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the national referendum scheduled for February 12. The instruction, issued by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam, was sent to the secretaries of four key ministries: Local Government, Road Transport and Highways, Power, and Posts and Telecommunications. The EC emphasized that no road repair or development work should disrupt critical transmission connections during this period.

According to the EC’s letter, fast and uninterrupted communication is essential for election operations. It instructed that any highway or road development work before or after the election must be coordinated with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to prevent damage to underground optical fiber or vital telecom lines.

EC Secretariat sources said the decision aims to maintain live drone feeds, ensure continuous data exchange from polling centers, and prevent accidental internet or phone disconnections. Over 120 million voters are expected to participate in both the election and the referendum on February 12.