Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has mandated the use of the photo voter list for polling officers in the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. This directive was formalized with the issuance of a circular by the EC Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the circular specifies that the photo voter list must be utilized at polling centers. Election officials and polling officers are required to implement this measure during the election process. However, candidates, election agents, or polling agents are permitted to obtain a non-photo voter list in CD format. They may print and use this list as needed.
To acquire the CD, interested parties must submit an application at the district or upazila level, or at the office of the returning officer (RO) or assistant returning officer (ARO), in conjunction with their nomination papers. A fee of Taka 500 per union and cantonment board area, and Taka 500 for each ward of city corporations and Pourasavas, is required. Payment should be made through treasury challan or pay order, with the specific treasury challan code being 1060101100125-1423253.
The circular also outlines that the non-photo voter list CDs given to candidates must undergo 100 percent verification against the printed photo voter list before being dispatched to polling centers. Additionally, polling officials and staff will have the opportunity to vote via the IT-supported postal ballot system. Registration for this system, facilitated by the 'Postal Vote BD' app, must be completed within 15 days following the election schedule announcement.
Returning officers have been instructed to promptly finalize panels of polling officials immediately after the election schedule is announced and to swiftly inform them about the registration process.