Expat voter registration to begin in Oct: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the voter registration process for expatriate Bangladeshis in the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections is likely to begin in mid-October.

According to EC officials, Bangladeshi citizens residing abroad who have National Identity Cards (NIDs) will be eligible to register as voters through a mobile application developed by the Commission.

The initiative aims to ensure the participation of expatriate Bangladeshis in the national election process for the first time. 

Officials estimate that around 70 per cent of expatriates with valid NIDs may be able to register as voters.

The EC has developed mobile apps to facilitate the registration process, although trial runs are yet to be conducted. 

Registration may follow two models—global or region-based examples like Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America—but the decision in this regard is yet to be finalised.

The Commission is currently working to finalise technical and procedural aspects to ensure smooth implementation of the process.