‘Postal Vote BD’ app launches to include expats in 2026 polls

‘Postal Vote BD’ app launches to include expats in 2026 polls

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday said the introduction of a postal voting system for expatriates and other eligible groups will strengthen Bangladesh’s democracy and reinforce the bond between the state and its citizens abroad.

Speaking at the launch of the Postal Vote BD mobile app at the Nirbachan Bhaban auditorium, he said the initiative would make the electoral process more inclusive and representative.

The app will allow expatriate Bangladeshis and selected categories of voters to register for postal ballots in the 13th parliamentary election, scheduled for early February 2026.

Expatriates, polling officials on duty, government employees posted outside their constituencies, and inmates will be able to register through the app to cast their votes via postal ballot.

The CEC said citizens living abroad contribute significantly to the country and must now be integrated into its democratic framework.

“Through their votes, the foundation of democracy will be broader, more representative, and stronger,” he said.

He noted that preparations began last year to ensure voting rights for citizens abroad, addressing a deprivation that has persisted for decades.

The newly introduced hybrid system—combining digital registration with manual voting—is designed to overcome the logistical challenges of conducting elections across borders.

“We have tried to plug all humanly conceivable gaps,” he said, adding that expatriates have been unable to vote for 54 years. “This time, they can vote. Building trust in the system is the major challenge.”

He added that democratic rights should no longer be limited by geography. “We are not just launching an app; we are opening a chapter where Bangladeshi citizenship is global.”

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the hybrid system ensures every postal ballot is traceable, with each envelope personalised and uniquely identifiable.

He acknowledged that postal voting systems worldwide face challenges. Globally, the average registration rate is only 2.7 percent, while the ballot wastage rate stands at 24 percent. Cybersecurity risks add further complexity, he said. “So it is not unusual to encounter some glitches.”

He also said voters using the postal system must pledge to maintain the secrecy of their ballots.

Election Commissioners Tahmida Ahmad and Md Anwarul Islam Saker attended the programme. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed delivered the welcome speech, while expatriates and Bangladeshi diplomats from various missions joined virtually.

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Md Delwar Hossain said around 35 lakh Bangladeshis live in the kingdom and expressed hope that many would participate through the postal system in 2026.

EC officials said 7–8 percent of Bangladesh’s voters live abroad and the commission aims to include around 50 lakh expatriate voters from 143 countries.

The EC plans to begin sending postal ballots to various destinations soon after the election schedule is announced. Expatriate voters will be able to cast their ballots after electoral symbols are allocated and return them via local post offices to their respective returning officers.