Dhaka: The Council of Advisers today granted final approval to the ‘Voters’ List (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025′. This ordinance permits eligible citizens to register as voters up until the publication of the final voters’ list or once they reach the age of 18. The approval was given during a meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Office, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad briefed reporters about the ordinance at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Currently, citizens who turn 18 by December are eligible for inclusion in the voters’ list in January of the subsequent year. Foyez Ahammad explained that the existing system only accommodates those who reach 18 by the previous December. The Election Commission releases a draft list on January 2, followed by the final list on March 2 each year.
Ahammad highlighted that individuals who turn 18 before the next election are excluded from participating and must wait for the subsequent election. To address this, the Election Commission suggests that those who become eligible within a reasonable timeframe before the election schedule announcement should be included in the voters’ list.
Additionally, the Council of Advisers approved the draft of the ‘Human Organ Transplantation Ordinance, 2025’. Shafiqul Alam noted that this ordinance broadens the scope for potential organ donors to donate, simplifying kidney transplants in the country. The ordinance aligns with international laws and outlines procedures for organ collection from deceased individuals.
The meeting also gave conditional approval to the ‘Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’, pending vetting by the Legislative Division and Parliamentary Affairs Division. Inquiries during the briefing revealed that a committee investigating the violence and casualties in Gopalganj would conduct a comprehensive probe to understand the incident, determine the cause of deaths, and identify those responsible for the violence. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir was also present at the meeting.