International Desk
Over 51,000 Bangladeshi citizens living abroad have registered to vote through the postal ballot system, as the country opens overseas voting for the first time ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and the upcoming national referendum.
According to the latest update from the Election Commission (EC), as of 10:00 am on November 27, a total of 51,533 expatriates had completed registration via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. Among them, 43,646 are men and 7,887 are women. The highest number of registrations originated from the United States, with 10,335 voters, followed by South Korea (8,889), Japan (6,158), Canada (5,865), Australia (4,755), South Africa (4,183), and China (1,651).
The Election Commission has now made the app-based registration facility accessible to all Bangladeshis residing in any country. In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the EC confirmed that the registration window will remain open worldwide from 12:01 am Bangladesh time on November 27 until 11:59 pm on December 18.
Senior Secretary of the EC, Akhtar Ahmed, explained that when the app was initially introduced on November 18, expatriates were divided into eight regions, each assigned a five-day registration period. These restrictions have since been lifted to allow greater convenience for overseas voters. Expatriates can now register from any location globally at any time during the designated period.
Experts note that the inclusion of overseas Bangladeshis in the electoral process represents a significant development in the country’s democratic and electoral history. This step enables citizens living abroad to participate in shaping national policies and legislative decisions, marking an expansion of democratic participation beyond the country’s borders.
The move comes as part of broader efforts to modernize electoral processes and incorporate technological solutions to facilitate voter engagement. The EC’s digital platform for postal voting allows expatriates to complete registration without visiting Bangladeshi diplomatic missions, thereby reducing logistical and administrative barriers.
The Commission has urged eligible overseas voters to complete their registration within the announced timeframe to ensure their participation in both the parliamentary elections and the upcoming referendum. The facilitation of overseas voting is expected to enhance transparency and inclusivity in the electoral process, providing Bangladeshi citizens abroad with an official channel to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
As the registration period progresses, the EC plans to monitor participation rates and ensure the system functions efficiently, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. The successful implementation of overseas voting is anticipated to set a precedent for future elections, potentially leading to greater political engagement among the Bangladeshi diaspora.
This historic initiative aligns with international practices in democratic governance, where expatriate populations are increasingly given opportunities to participate in national elections. The inclusion of overseas voters is expected to broaden the representative base of the electorate and strengthen the legitimacy of the electoral process in Bangladesh.