Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has called on expatriate Bangladeshis around the world to register online in order to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 12th National Parliamentary Elections.

The appeal was made in a message broadcast on the Election Commission’s official YouTube channel on Tuesday night.

“If you are a Bangladeshi citizen living abroad and wish to vote, you must take advantage of this registration opportunity. We hope all our brothers and sisters overseas will make full use of it,” the CEC said.

He described the initiative as "a historic milestone in our democratic journey," adding that registration under the ‘Out of Country Voting’ system is a prerequisite for participation. To facilitate the process, the commission plans to launch a mobile application titled Postal Vote BD.

According to the CEC, registrants will be required to provide their National ID, passport details, and overseas address. The app will also verify identity through facial recognition and liveness detection.

Once registration is complete, ballot papers and return envelopes will be sent directly to voters’ overseas addresses. “After casting your vote, you will simply post the ballot back, and it will reach the designated authority,” he explained.

The commissioner likened the move to “a child’s first step,” calling it the beginning of a historic chapter in enabling expatriate participation in Bangladesh’s electoral process. He emphasised that mobile and digital technology would make voting “more accessible and convenient” for Bangladeshis abroad.

Election Commission officials confirmed that the app is expected to be launched in November for online registration, ahead of voting scheduled for the first half of February. 

Expatriates who complete registration will be allowed to cast their votes earlier than domestic voters, immediately after candidate nominations are finalised, with ballots to be returned by post.

SMS/