The Election Commission (EC) has issued a directive ordering the removal of all types of election campaign materials currently displayed across electoral areas.

The instruction was issued by Mohammad Monir Hossain, deputy secretary of the EC’s Election Management Division-2, on Wednesday as preparations for announcing the election schedule get under way.

According to the directive, potential candidates and individuals concerned must remove all promotional materials — including posters, banners, wall writings, billboards, gates, arches, fences, pandals and decorative lighting — at their own cost and responsibility.

All such publicity materials and election camps must be removed within 48 hours of the announcement of the election schedule, the circular said.

To ensure timely enforcement of the directive, the EC has sought cooperation from local government bodies. City Corporations, Municipalities and Union Parishads have been instructed to take necessary steps to facilitate the removal of campaign materials.