ছবি: ফাইল ছবি
Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, Bangladesh has witnessed an unprecedented response to its newly introduced postal ballot system, with a total of 1,533,682 voters successfully registering online to cast their votes through this method, marking a significant milestone in the country’s electoral history. Among the registered voters, 761,140 are based within the country, primarily those who will be engaged in election duties or unable to be present in their constituencies on polling day, while 772,542 voters are expatriates living abroad, reflecting a major step forward in ensuring overseas voter participation. Compared to international averages where expatriate voter turnout remains relatively low, Bangladesh has managed to secure participation exceeding five percent in its very first year, underscoring the effectiveness and public acceptance of the initiative. The postal ballot model has already drawn international attention, with several countries and organizations closely observing how the system has been implemented. According to the election roadmap, postal voting will commence following the allocation of election symbols, and based on this experience, there is strong potential to further expand expatriate voting in the future. With an estimated Bangladeshi diaspora of nearly 15 million worldwide, this initiative is widely viewed as a landmark democratic reform aimed at ensuring political inclusion for expatriate citizens, addressing a long-standing gap, and strengthening the overall credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process.
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