Dhaka: A total of 458,315 voters have registered through the “Postal Vote BD” app to participate in the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum. This initiative allows expatriate Bangladeshis, government employees on election duty, and individuals residing outside their voter areas to cast their votes via postal ballot.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the latest postal voting update available on the Election Commission (EC) website shows that out of the total registrations, 429,965 are male voters and 28,348 are female voters. Expatriate Bangladeshis, particularly from Saudi Arabia, have shown significant interest, with 117,117 registrations. Other notable numbers include 42,201 from Qatar, 29,793 from Malaysia, and 28,915 from Oman.
Salim Ahmad Khan, the Team Leader of the Out of Country Voting System and Implementation (OCV-SDI) project, highlighted the challenge of reaching expatriates. Efforts are underway to engage with embassies through weekly meetings to facilitate voter registration. He also mentioned that government employees engaged in election duties have fully started their registration process, with hopes of a substantial turnout for the In-Country Postal Vote (ICPV). The registration cost is Tk 22 for in-country voters and approximately Tk 700 for expatriates.
Khan expressed optimism that the number of registrations via the app could potentially reach between 500,000 to 600,000. For those involved in election duties, registration is open until December 25, as per the election schedule announcement.
An EC message reiterated that officials and employees engaged in election duties, along with voters in legal custody, can register for the ICPV from 8am to 8pm until December 25. Akhtar Ahmed, EC Secretariat Senior Secretary, emphasized the registration period for voters in legal custody from December 21 to December 25, with the process facilitated by the EC.
The initial target for postal ballot registration was set at one million voters. Ahmed noted that personnel directly involved in the election, such as the police, army, or Ansar forces, will have their registration conducted subsequently.
The Election Commission has urged expatriate Bangladeshis to ensure accuracy in their address details when registering to receive postal ballots. An EC message stated that correct and complete addresses are essential for sending postal ballot papers, and voters may use their workplace or a known person’s address if necessary.
The “Postal Vote BD” app, inaugurated by the Chief Election Commissioner on November 18, facilitates voter registration for 148 designated countries. To vote via postal ballot, expatriate voters must use a mobile number from the country where they intend to cast their vote. The app is available for download on Google Play Store and the App Store.