Postal Ballot Distribution Commences for Overseas Bangladeshis

In a landmark move to ensure the active participation of expatriate Bangladeshis in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections and the national referendum, the Election Commission (EC) has initiated the distribution of postal ballots to registered overseas voters. The programme, facilitated through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile application, aims to provide a secure and convenient means for Bangladeshi citizens abroad to exercise their democratic right.

On Friday, 19 December, and Saturday, 20 December, a total of 41,543 postal ballots were dispatched across ten countries as part of this effort. Salim Ahmed Khan, Team Leader of the EC’s Overseas Voter Registration and Balloting Project, explained that the distribution process took place over two days—covering three countries on Friday and seven on Saturday.

He further clarified that registered voters can log in to the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to access the list of candidates in their respective constituencies. By following the instructions provided, voters can mark their preferred candidate with a tick or cross. Importantly, Khan emphasised that votes cast prior to the final allocation of candidate symbols will not be considered invalid; however, in accordance with legal provisions, voters must complete their final selection once symbols are officially assigned.

According to the EC, on Friday, ballots were sent to Australia (892), the United Kingdom (573), and Malaysia (6,246). On Saturday evening, ballots were further dispatched to seven countries, including the United States (8,480), China (681), Kuwait (1,310), Qatar (2,737), Saudi Arabia (7,343), Japan (5,600), and South Korea (7,681).

As of 7:30 pm on Saturday, the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app had recorded 540,610 registered voters. Registration is not limited to overseas citizens alone; government officials and employees engaged in electoral duties are also registering to vote from outside their designated constituencies.

The Election Commission has emphasised that this postal voting system offers a safe, reliable, and effective means for expatriate Bangladeshis to participate in the democratic process. By enabling voters to cast their ballots from remote locations, the initiative is designed to strengthen the engagement of the Bangladeshi diaspora in national governance and reaffirm Bangladesh’s steadfast commitment to inclusive, participatory democracy.