The Election Commission of Bangladesh is considering granting voting rights to expatriates, at least on a limited scale, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Naser Uddin said Tuesday.
"Many countries around the world have out-of-country voting systems, although several have failed to implement them due to various challenges. Even neighboring India has not yet managed to introduce it. We want to start-at least in a limited capacity," he said while speaking at a seminar held at the Election Commission auditorium in Dhaka.
The CEC affirmed, "Ensuring voting rights for expatriates in the upcoming election is a promise we intend to keep. This is a demand from all sides, and we have been working on it. A final decision will be made after evaluating the country's socio-economic situation, education levels, and technical feasibility. Without political support, nothing can be implemented. We must choose a method that is both trustworthy and cost-effective."
Akhtar Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission, added, "If expatriates cannot vote, it affects the voter turnout ratio. The Election Commission is committed to holding free and fair elections. We want a festive voting atmosphere and aim to include expatriates in this celebration."
However, the CEC reiterated that political party support is essential for any such initiative to succeed.
Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah called on all political parties to submit their opinions on the expatriate voting mechanism by May 15.
In the meantime, separate reports have been submitted to the commission by Dhaka University, MIST, and BUET, outlining three potential voting methods for expatriates: postal ballots, online voting, and proxy voting. These reports also detailed potential challenges associated with each method.
The seminar included discussions on system transparency, technical feasibility, appropriate security measures, and system design to ensure the credibility of the expatriate voting process. Representatives from various political parties were present at the event.
