Overseas Bangladeshis Will Now Be Able to Vote

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has announced that, regardless of where they are in the world, overseas Bangladeshis will now have the opportunity to cast their vote using modern technology. He described this as a historic milestone in the country’s democratic journey.

The announcement was made on Tuesday (30 September) during a video message uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the Election Commission of Bangladesh.

For the first time, Bangladeshi citizens living abroad will be able to exercise their voting rights in a more accessible and efficient manner through modern technological solutions. To vote from abroad, citizens must first register for ‘Out of Country Voting’ (OCV).

To facilitate this, the Election Commission will soon launch a mobile application called ‘Postal Vote BD’, which can be downloaded on smartphones. An instructional video within the app will guide users through each step of the registration process.

Once the registration process is completed, ballot papers will be delivered to the overseas address provided by the voter. Pre-addressed envelopes for returning the completed ballot will also be sent to ensure a smooth postal process.

Voting Procedure

• After casting the vote, the ballot paper should be posted in the provided envelope to the Election Commission.
• This system ensures that the vote reaches the designated address securely and accurately.
• Registration through the app is mandatory for all overseas Bangladeshis who wish to participate in the election.

The CEC encouraged all overseas Bangladeshis to take full advantage of this historic opportunity and participate actively.

Voting guidance and detailed information will be made available through multiple channels:

• Instructional Video in the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app.
• Bangladeshi Embassies around the world.
• Election Commission website.
• Official government media outlets.

The CEC emphasised that, just as a child takes a first step, this initiative represents a first step for overseas Bangladeshis in participating directly in the country’s elections.

“We want to stand beside our overseas compatriots in this historic journey. With your active participation, we hope to implement this initiative effectively. By leveraging current mobile and information technology, we have made the voting process more convenient and straightforward. For the first time, the Election Commission has taken this significant step. Let us all participate together in this historic initiative and ensure that, wherever Bangladeshis live in the world, their voices are heard.”