Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has been granted approval to initiate the voter registration process and issue national identity cards (NIDs) in five additional countries, including the United States. The other countries included in this phase are the Maldives, Jordan, South Africa, and Oman.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the approval through an official consent letter sent to the EC. The letter, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shakera Ahmed, confirms that the EC is now authorized to commence voter registration and NID issuance in these countries, with Los Angeles designated as the location for the United States.
The EC has been urged to take necessary steps to implement the registration process in these approved countries. Previously, on July 2, Md. Abdul Momin Sarkar, Director of the Election Commission's National Identity Registration Division, had addressed a letter to the Foreign Secretary seeking consent to start the registration process for Bangladeshi citizens living abroad.
The EC Secretariat has already initiated voter registration and NID issuance in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada, following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consent.
Among the remaining 31 countries, the United States, Oman, Jordan, South Africa, and the Maldives have now been cleared to begin registering expatriate voters. Countries still awaiting approval include Bahrain, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and others.
The letter from the EC noted that the Secretariat is fully prepared to start the voter registration process in these countries and has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide consent on a priority basis.
Previously, Japan received approval on May 25, with preparations to begin by July 15. The EC Secretariat has requested priority consent for other countries as well, including Turkey, Egypt, and France.
When reached for comment, EC National Identity Registration Division Director General ASM Humayun Kabir stated that the EC is ready to start voter registration and issuance of national identity cards in these new countries, and work has already commenced.
EC officials reported that voter registration and NID issuance for expatriates is ongoing in several countries, with approximately 47,032 expatriates applying for registration. Biometrics for 29,563 individuals have been collected, and 20,451 have been approved as voters, while 3,677 applications have been rejected.