Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin announced today that Bangladesh is embarking on postal voting for the first time in its electoral history, amidst the complexities and challenges this system entails. This announcement was made during a dialogue session with representatives of registered political parties at the Election Commission building in Agargaon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CEC highlighted the significant progress being made towards the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election with the introduction of postal voting and provisions for expatriates. He acknowledged the difficulties in implementing this system, noting that many countries have faced challenges in successfully integrating postal voting into their elections. Despite these hurdles, Bangladesh is moving forward with the initiative after conducting several experimental trials.
"This year, we have introduced many new initiatives, including the postal voting system for expatriates, a complicated issue that has never been addressed in our electoral history," said Nasir Uddin. He emphasized that although many countries have not successfully implemented postal voting, Bangladesh has accepted the challenge and has already begun experimenting with it.
The CEC noted that the upcoming election would feature other new and complex issues. He highlighted the substantial effort involved in updating the voter list, which required over 77,000 field staff who underwent special training. Additionally, he mentioned the provisions being made for various groups of voters, including law enforcement officers, presiding officers, government employees, and incarcerated individuals, to ensure they can vote while fulfilling their duties.
Nasir Uddin stressed the need for collaborative efforts to ensure a smooth and fair election process. He called for the support of political leaders and national figures, stating that their cooperation is essential to maintaining a fair and transparent election focused on the safety and management of voters. He urged adherence to the election code of conduct to guarantee a peaceful and lawful election environment.
The dialogue was attended by Election Commissioner Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (retd), Tahmida Ahmed, Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, and other officials. Six political parties participated in the morning session, including Gano Forum, Gano Front, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), and Bangladesh Jatiya Party. Additional dialogue with representatives from six more political parties is scheduled for later today.