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The Election Commission (EC) is planning to introduce an IT-supported postal voting system to enable Bangladeshis living abroad to vote in the 13th national parliamentary election, expected to be held in February next year.
Under this system, the EC will send postal ballots to verified expatriate voters who voluntarily register through a mobile app. Voters will then return their completed ballots by postal mail, according to confirmed sources.
The Election Commission Secretariat has proposed a Tk 492.13 million project to develop this system and pilot an online voting platform. The project focuses on developing and testing software to ensure security, usability, and reliability, officials at the Planning Commission said.
The Socio Economic Infrastructure Division under the Planning Commission recently held a meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), chaired by Dr Qaiyum Ara Begum, member (Secretary) of the division, to review the proposal.
The committee recommended approving the project titled "Development and Implementation of Overseas Voting System," subject to compliance with certain suggestions.
Since the total project cost is below Tk 500 million, it may receive direct approval from Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud without needing clearance from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The proposal highlights that over 13 million Bangladeshis -- 10.51 per cent of the total 123.7 million registered voters -- currently live abroad and contribute significantly to the country's economy.
An EC official said expatriate voters have long been excluded from the voting process and expects that, for the first time, at least 5 million will be able to exercise their voting rights through the new system.
"The chief adviser of the interim government has pledged to ensure voting rights for these citizens in the upcoming national election," the official added, noting that the initiative follows government instructions.
Registration Process
To vote, expatriate voters must download a mobile app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. After installation, they fill out a comprehensive Electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) form within the app.
Once the information is verified against the National ID (NID) database, a One-Time Password (OTP) is sent to the voter's mobile phone. The voter then enters the OTP and completes facial recognition and liveliness verification using their phone's camera. Only after passing all verification steps will the individual be registered to vote.
In coordination with the Postal Department, the EC will send ballots centrally to all verified overseas voters. Each package will include a hologram security sticker and a prepaid return envelope with a printed address
After receiving the ballot, voters scan the QR code on the envelope using the mobile app to confirm receipt. Another OTP is sent for second identity verification via facial recognition.
Voters then mark their choice on the ballot, seal it in the return envelope using the hologram sticker, and drop it off at the nearest post office.
Upon arrival in Bangladesh, the Postal Department will forward the ballots to the designated returning officers of the relevant constituencies.
Mohammad Abdur Rouf, additional secretary and chief of the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division, said the EC's proposal contains some ambiguities that need clarification.
"The Development Project Proposal (DPP) will be revised based on the PEC meeting discussions, and approval will be considered after the updated proposal is submitted."
EC officials stated the project will be implemented in coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and the Postal Department.
KM Ali Newaz, additional secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, said the project does not yet specify the exact number of voters or the detailed timing and voting process.
"In the initial phase, it will not be possible to collect votes from all expatriates; only those who can be reached will be able to vote," he added.
He also noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be needed to inform expatriates about the voting process, while the Postal Department will handle sending and receiving ballots.
"We have not yet received the PEC meeting minutes. Once received, the DPP will be revised according to the PEC's recommendations," said another EC official.
The EC confirmed a target to enable voting for at least 5 million expatriate voters in the first phase.
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