Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has prepared transparent ballot boxes for voting in the postal ballots being introduced for the first time in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) and Referendum slated for February 12. Regional Election Officer of Dhaka, Md Yunuch Ali, officially inaugurated the ballot box locking process at the Election Training Institute (ETI) at Agargaon today in the presence of candidates' representatives.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this special measure was taken for the 'Out of Country Voting' (OCB) and 'In Country Postal Ballot' (ICPB) voting, introduced for the first time in the country's history. Voting booths have been set up for Dhaka-13 constituency in room no-505 on the fifth floor of the ETI building and for Dhaka-15 constituency in room no-606 on the sixth floor.
"There are 5,617 registered voters in Dhaka-13 constituency where some 14 ballot boxes were prepared for them and 19 ballot boxes were ready for 7,405 registered voters in Dhaka-15 electoral constituency," the Dhaka Regional Election Officer stated. He emphasized that for the first time in Bangladesh's history, voters are getting the opportunity to franchise their voting rights through postal ballots, OCB, and ICPB systems.
He further explained that the ballot boxes were closed with the prescribed lock seals in front of the candidates' representatives. Earlier, a notification was issued stating the number with which these ballot boxes have been closed. Regarding the voting process and security, he mentioned that after the ballots arrive from the postal department, they will be scanned with a designated barcode machine. If deemed appropriate, they will be digitally saved on a laptop, and the ballot envelope will be stored in the box. There will be a 24-hour police guard at the polling stations.
Additional regional election officer AHM Kamrul Hasan, also the officer-in-charge of postal ballots for Dhaka-13 and 15 constituencies, explained that the boxes were locked according to the capacity of 400 voters in each box. After the postal ballots arrive from the postal department, they will be verified with a barcode scanner and entered in Form No. 12. Then the postal ballot envelopes will be placed in the box.
Regarding the counting process, he noted that during the counting of votes after 4:30 pm on February 12, the candidates will check the lock number of the box with the notification. If the number is correct, the lock will be opened and the counting will begin.