Bangladeshi expatriates seeking to register as voters abroad must now submit four mandatory documents, according to new guidelines issued by the Election Commission (EC).

Officials from the EC’s expatriate voter registration wing confirmed that field offices and diplomatic missions have been instructed to enforce the requirements for overseas voter registration.

To complete the process, applicants must provide - a completed online Form-2(A) application, a valid Bangladeshi passport, an online-verified birth registration certificate, and a recent passport-size colour photograph.

Additional documents may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances.  These include academic certificates (such as SSC, JSC, or PSC), the National ID of parents, dual citizenship certificates (if applicable), driving license or TIN, marriage certificates and spousal NIDs, death certificates of parents (if deceased), and proof of residency such as utility bills, house rental agreements, or landlord no-objection letters.

Citizens from certain special administrative zones—such as 56 designated upazilas in the Chattogram region—must also complete a separate 'Special Information Form.'

If some supporting documents cannot be submitted in person at the registration centre abroad, applicants may send them through relatives to the relevant upazila election office in Bangladesh.

The EC is currently facilitating voter registration for Bangladeshi expatriates in nine countries: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Canada, and Australia. Registration must be initiated online and completed in person at designated embassies, where biometric data and photographs are collected.

So far, nearly half a million applications have been submitted. The Election Commission aims to expand the programme to at least 40 countries in the future, officials said. 

SMS/