Public transportation, including local and regular route buses, along with private cars, will be permitted for movement on the polling day to facilitate voters in reaching polling centers, as announced by Md Mustafizur Rahman, the senior secretary of the Public Security Division of the home ministry.
Expressing concern about voters’ accessibility to polling centers if all transportation is restricted, Rahman emphasized that allowing public transports, easy bikes, and auto-rickshaws, especially popular in rural areas, would ensure a smooth voting process. A circular detailing these allowances is expected to be issued within a day.
However, the senior secretary noted that the movement of certain vehicles, including motorcycles and speedboats, will face restrictions during this period.
In a circular issued on December 31, the Road Transport and Highways Division imposed a ban on the movement of taxi cabs, microbuses, lorries, and trucks from 12:00 a.m. on January 6 to 12:00 a.m. on January 7. Additionally, motorbikes will be prohibited on the roads from midnight on January 5 to midnight on January 8, with exceptions made for law enforcement, armed forces, administration, and approved observers.
Emergency service vehicles, such as those providing medicine, health services, and newspaper transportation, will be exempt from these restrictions. Transports carrying relatives of foreign travelers to and from airports are also excluded but must present relevant documents like airline tickets.
The circular further specified that election candidates and their agents would be allowed one jeep, car, or microbus for movement with proper stickers and approval from returning officers. District magistrates retain the authority to impose or relax vehicle movement restrictions based on local needs and circumstances.
