Bangladeshis residing abroad will be able to exercise their voting rights through postal ballots in the upcoming national parliamentary elections, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah announced on Wednesday, July 10.
The decision follows a recent Election Commission meeting held at its headquarters in Agargaon, where the commission reviewed ways to ensure greater participation of expatriate voters.
The move comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally granted approval to the Election Commission to begin voter registration and NID issuance in five countries: the United States, Maldives, Jordan, South Africa, and Oman.
The EC received the official consent letter from the ministry on 9 July, clearing the way to integrate more overseas Bangladeshis into the electoral process.
In a press briefing following the meeting, Commissioner Sanaullah also confirmed that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will not be used in the next parliamentary or local government elections, signaling a return to traditional paper ballots.
In response to a question regarding election irregularities, Sanaullah stated that the commission has applied to regain the authority to cancel elections in an entire constituency if widespread malpractice is detected.
Currently, the EC can only annul results at individual polling centers, as the broader authority was previously withdrawn.
The series of announcements underscore the commission’s efforts to enhance transparency and inclusivity in Bangladesh’s electoral process.
