EC set to sit with political parties Tuesday over postal ballots

The Election Commission (EC) will hold a meeting on Tuesday with the representatives of political parties contesting the national election to discuss issues and concerns related to postal ballots.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at 4:00 pm at the Election Commission, and officials from Bangladesh missions abroad will also join it through virtual platforms.

 “Political parties are not yet fully clear about various aspects of the postal voting system. We will present the entire issue to the representatives of each party tomorrow (Tuesday). Officials from Bangladesh embassies around the world will be connected (virtually) with the meeting,” said Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker while talking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

He said the commission would listen to problems, inconveniences and complaints, and also hear how different stakeholders are viewing the issue.

Another Election Commissioner Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah told reporters that votes would not be accepted, if the voter fails facial recognition verification.

 “We will not accept the vote of anyone who does not complete facial recognition verification,” he said

BNP’s Allegations

BNP last week alleged that its electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ was intentionally kept in a less visible place (in folding line) of the postal ballot designed for the expatriate voters and demanded change in the postal ballots to be designed for government officials posted outside their voting areas, polling staff and prisoners.

The party also raised questions about the distribution process of the postal ballots abroad for out-of-country voting.

It also sought a clear explanation from the Election Commission over the recent viral video regarding the postal ballots sent to Bahrain and how the postal ballots were sent to expatriates, claiming that BNP is a victim of flaws that took place in case of the out-of-country voting system.

Later, the party asked the Election Commission to use the constituency-based postal ballots inscribing the names of candidates and symbols for the In-Country Postal Voting in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12 next.

BNP said postal ballots should include the names and symbols of all candidates of the respective constituencies, just like general ballots.