Dhaka: National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organizer for Southern Region Hasnat Abdullah today emphasized the importance of expatriates participating actively in shaping Bangladesh's political leadership and exercising their voting rights in the upcoming national election.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Hasnat Abdullah highlighted in a video statement that expatriates, despite their daily hard work, keep the country's economic engine running and remain emotionally bonded to Bangladesh, irrespective of their physical location. He noted that for over five decades since independence, expatriates have significantly contributed to the national economy but have been excluded from the decision-making process regarding political leadership and representation in parliament.
He further pointed out that many citizens within Bangladesh have been denied their voting rights in the past, which made it even more difficult for expatriates to participate. However, due to the continuous advocacy by the NCP, expatriates will have the opportunity to vote from abroad for the first time in the upcoming parliamentary election.
Abdullah urged expatriates to download the Postal Vote BD mobile application and update their voter information using their passport and National ID number to ensure they are eligible to vote. He criticized certain political elites for treating expatriates as third-class citizens or merely labourers, asserting that this mindset must change. He emphasized that expatriates, whom he referred to as remittance fighters, deserve rightful participation in determining the future power structure of the country.
In his call to action, Abdullah encouraged Bangladeshi expatriates worldwide to exercise their voting rights, stating that their ballot would be the means to decide who should lead the nation and represent them in parliament. He wished expatriates good health and encouraged them to actively participate in shaping the nation's political future.