B Mirror Report: Printing presses across Dhaka are experiencing a severe business slowdown as the upcoming national election is being held without posters for the first time since independence. The ban on election posters, imposed under the Election Commission’s new code of conduct, has significantly reduced seasonal work that traditionally sustained the printing industry.

At Printing Press in Fakirapul, machine operator person finished printing 12,000 posters for a religious gathering within two hours last Sunday afternoon and then remained idle for the rest of the day. “During past elections, we worked day and night printing posters. This year, there’s no pressure at all,” he said, adding that work related to the annual book fair has also declined.

A visit to printing hubs in Bijoynagar, Fakirapul and Paltan revealed a similar picture. Many presses had one or more machines shut down due to a lack of orders. Only limited leaflet printing was observed, while most active presses were engaged in commercial printing such as brochures, garment tags, and books.

On November 10, the Election Commission issued the Political Parties and Candidates’ Code of Conduct 2025, banning the use of posters in election campaigns due to environmental concerns. Candidates are now only allowed to use leaflets, handbills, and festoons, with images restricted to party chiefs. The EC has also instructed printing presses not to print election posters.

According to industry insiders, printing presses in Dhaka alone used to generate business worth around Tk 2 billion during national election seasons, with posters accounting for nearly Tk 1.5 billion. This year, that revenue has vanished, while demand for leaflets and handbills remains low.

The situation has been worsened by the postponement of the month-long Ekushey Book Fair to February 20, reducing another major source of seasonal income for printers.

Md. Wahidur Rahman, president of the Dhaka South Printing Owners Association, said the ban has dealt a major blow to the industry. “Election posters were one of our main income sources. Leaflet printing alone cannot compensate for the losses,” he said, warning that many presses have already shut down and more are at risk as workers face unpaid wages and job insecurity.