Dhaka, Dec 01 (V7N) – More than 101,987 overseas Bangladeshis have registered to vote via postal ballots for the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections and referendums using the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile app. Among them, 17,674 voters are from the United States.

According to updates published on the Election Commission (EC) website, as of 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 30, a total of 101,987 expatriate voters had successfully completed registration through the app. Of these, 86,591 are male voters and 15,396 are female voters.

Country-specific registration figures indicate that 17,674 voters are from the United States, 9,375 from South Korea, 8,385 from Canada, 8,021 from Singapore, 7,391 from Australia, 6,770 from Japan, 6,238 from the United Kingdom, 4,711 from South Africa, 4,681 from Italy, and 3,592 from Saudi Arabia.

The EC has also reopened registration via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app for seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, from Sunday afternoon. Md. Ruhul Amin Mallick, Director (Public Relations) of the EC Secretariat, confirmed that registration resumed at 3:15 p.m. for expatriate voters residing in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Malaysia.

He emphasized that voters must provide an accurate postal address in their respective countries to receive their ballots. Where necessary, applicants may use a relative’s or friend’s address, or that of a recognized local institution, to ensure timely delivery.

The Election Commission has now made the registration process available to overseas voters worldwide. According to an official EC statement, registration via the app will remain open from 12:01 a.m. on November 27 until 11:59 p.m. on December 18 (Bangladesh time).

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed highlighted that expatriate Bangladeshis can register from any location worldwide at any time until December 18. He noted that the postal voting arrangement marks a historic step in ensuring the participation of overseas citizens in national elections. Additionally, in-country postal voting (ICPV) has been introduced for government employees, voters under legal guardianship, and officials residing outside their registered constituencies, benefiting approximately one million voters.

The ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, inaugurated by the Chief Election Commissioner on November 18, also outlines the registration schedule for 148 countries ahead of the 13th National Parliament election. To register, expatriate voters must use a mobile number from the country where they will vote. The app is available on Google Play Store and App Store, supporting both Bangla and English languages, and provides detailed instructions and required documentation for registration. Accurate address information is mandatory to ensure the delivery of ballots abroad.

This initiative by the Election Commission represents a significant advancement in enabling overseas participation in Bangladesh’s electoral process, strengthening democratic inclusion for citizens living abroad.

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