‘Wherever you are, be a part of history by voting': CEC tells Bangladeshi expats

For the first time, Bangladeshi expatriates will be able to cast their votes in national elections through a newly introduced digital system, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has revealed.

In a video message to expatriates broadcast on the Election Commission’s YouTube channel on Monday night, he said the initiative marks “a historic milestone in the country’s democratic journey”.

The CEC announced that a mobile application named "Postal Vote BD" would be launched soon to make voting from abroad "much simpler and more effective," according to a bdnews24.com report Wednesday.

After downloading the app, users will find a video tutorial explaining the registration and voting process, he explained.

Voters will need to provide their national ID card and passport details, along with their overseas address. Through the app, they must complete facial recognition and liveness detection to register.

Once registered, ballot papers and return envelopes will be sent to the voter’s overseas address.

“After casting your vote, you simply have to post the envelope at the post office, and it will reach the appropriate address,” Nasir said.

'A HISTORIC FIRST STEP'

Nasir urged all eligible expatriates to take advantage of the new system.

“If you are a Bangladeshi living abroad and interested in voting, then you must register. We hope all our expatriate brothers and sisters will make use of this opportunity,” he said.

Describing the initiative as a "beginning", he added: “When a child takes its first step, it marks a beginning. This is our first step for expatriate voting, a historic start. We want to take this journey together with our brothers abroad, and with your active participation, we hope to implement it even more effectively.”

Information on the new system will be available through the Postal Vote BD app, at Bangladesh embassies abroad, and on the Election Commission’s website.